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TRANSACTIONS 


!    GAELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS.    j 

i 

J 


V  O  ITU  M  E      IX. 


1879-8O. 


TRANSACTIONS 

OF   THE 

GAELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS. 


VOLUME      IX., 
1  879-8  O. 


TRANSACTIONS 


OF 


THE  GAELIC  SOCIETY 

OF  INVERNESS. 


ME     IX., 
1879-80. 


nan  §mtyml  an  diuailkau  a  CJale. 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  GAELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS, 

BY    THE    FREE    PRESS    PRINTING    COMPANY,    INVERNESS; 

AND   SOLD  BY  JOHN  NOBLE?  JAMES   H.    MACKENZIE,  JAMES  MELVIN,    AND 

WILLIAM  MACKAY,  BOOKSELLERS,  INVERNESS ; 
AND    MACLACHLAN    &    STEWART,    EDINBURGH. 


1881. 


CONTENTS, 


PAQK 

Office-bearers  for  1880,        .......      vii. 

Constitution,      .........     viii. 

Introduction,      .........     xiii. 

Eighth  Annual  Assembly  —  Speeches   by  Mr.  Lachlan  Mac- 
donald,  Rev.  Alexander  Macgregor,  Professor  Blackie, 
and  Rev.  Alexander  Cameron,  ....          1 

Leaves   from    my   Celtic    Portfolio,    fifth    series  —  William 

Mackenzie,       .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .19 

Leaves   from   my   Celtic    Portfolio,    sixth    series  —  AVilliam 

Mackenzie,       ........       43 

Eighth  Annual  Dinner  —  Speeches  by  Mr.  Lachlan  Macdonald, 
Mr.   William  Jolly,  Mr.   Alexander  Mackenzie,  Mr. 
Alexander  Ross,    Mr.    Colin   Chisholm,   Mr.  James 
Barren,   Mr.   Robert   Grant,    Mr.   A.   C.   Mackenzie, 
Mr.  William  Mackay,  Sir  Kenneth  Mackenzie,  &c.,  .       74 
Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio,   seventh  series  —  William 

Mackenzie,       .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .95 

The  Strathglass  Witches  of  1662—  William  Mackay,     .         .113 
Ninth  Annual  Assembly  —  Letters  from  Mr.  John  Mackay, 
Dr.  Charles  Mackay,  and  Professor  Blackie  ;  Speeches 
by  Rev.   Dr,  Maclauchlan,  Mr.  Colin  Chisholm,  and 
Rev.  Alexander  Macgregor,       .         .         .         .         .121 

Oidhche  Shamhna  —  John  Mackay,  Hereford,        .         .         .136 
"  The  Execution  of  Montrose"  —  Gaelic   Translation   by  Mrs. 

Mary  MacKellar,     .         .         .         .         .         .         .142 

Honorary  Chieftains,  .         .         .         .         .         .         .149 

Life  Members,    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .149 

Honorary  Members,    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .149 

Ordinary  Members,     .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .151 

Apprentices,       .........     157 

List  of  Books  in  the  Society's  Library,         .         ,         .         .159 


of 


OFFICE-BEARERS. 

YJSAE   1880. 

CHIEF- 
Rev.  Thomas  MacLauchlan,  L.L.D.,  Edinburgh. 

CHIEFTAINS. 

George  J.  Campbell,  Solicitor,  Inverness. 
Charles  Mackay,  Culduthel  Road. 
Colin  Chisholm,  Namur  Cottage. 

HONORARY  SECRETARY. 
William  Maekay,  Solicitor,  Church  Street. 

SECRETARY. 
"William  Mackenzie,  "Free  Press"  Office,   Inverness. 

TREASURER. 
Duncan  Mackintosh,  Bank  of  Scotland,  Inverness. 

COUNCIL. 

Alex.  Mackenzie,  of  the  "  Celtic  Magazine." 
Fraser  Campbell,  Draper,  High  Street. 
James  Fraser,  C.E. 
Alexander  Ranaldson  MacRaild. 
John  Whyte,  "Highlander"  Office. 

LIBRARIAN. 
John  Whyte,  "Highlander"  Office. 

BARD- 
Mrs.  Mary  Mackellar. 

PIPER. 
Pipe-Major  Alexander  Maclennan. 

BANKERS. 
The  Caledonian  Banking  Company. 


COMUNN  GAILIG  INBHIR-NIS. 


CO-SHU  JDHEACHADH. 

1.  'S  e  ainm  a'  Chomuinn  "  COMUNN  GAILIG  INBHIR-NIS." 

2.  'S  e  tha  an  run  a'  Chomuinn : — Na  buill  a  dheanamh 
iomlan  'sa'  Ghailig;  cinneas  Canaine,  Bardachd,  agus  Ciuil  na 
Gaidhealtachd ;  Bardachd,  Seanachas,  Sgeulachd,  Leabhraichean 
agus  Sgriobhanna  's  a'  chanain  sin  a  thearnadh  o  dhearmad ; 
Leabhar-lann  a  chur  suas  ann  am  baile  Inbhir-Kis  de  leabhraichibh 
agus   sgriobhannaibh — ann   an  canain  sam  bith — a  bhuineas  do 
Chaileachd,  lonnsachaidh,  Eachdraidheachd  agus  Sheanachasaibh 
nan  Gaidheal  no  do  thairbhe  na  Gaidhealtachd ;  c6ir  agus  cliu  nan 
Gaidheal  a  dhion ;  agus  na  Gaidheil  a  shoirbheachadh  a  ghna  ge 
b'e  ait  am  bi  iad. 

3.  'S  iad  a  bhitheas  'nam  buill,  cuideachd  a  tha  gabhail  suim 
do  runtaibh  a'  Chomuinn,  agus  so  mar  gheibh  iad  a  staigh: — 
Tairgidh  aon  bhall  an  t-iarradair,  daingnichidh  ball  eile  an  tairgse, 
agus,  aig  an  ath  choinneamh,  ma  roghnaicheas  a'  mhor-chuid  le 
crannchur,   nithear  ball   dhith-se   no  dheth-san   cho   math  's  a 
phaidhear  an  chomhthoirt ;  cuirear  crainn  le  ponair  dhubh  agus 
gheal,  ach,  gu  so  bhi  dligheach,  feumaidh  tri  buill  dheug  an  crainn 
a  chur.     Feudaidh  an  Comunn  Urram  Cheannardan  a  thoirt  do 
urrad  'us  seachd  daoine  cliuiteach. 

4.  Paidhidh  BaU  Urramach,  'sa'  bhliadhna      .£010     6 

Ball  Cumanta 050 

Foghlainte 010 

Agus  ni  Ball-beatha  aon  chomh-thoirt  de     .      770 

5.  'S  a'  Cheud-mhios,  gach  bliadhna,  roghnaichear,  le  crainn, 
Co-chomhairle  a  riaghlas  gnothuichean  a'  Chomuinn,  's  e  sin — aon 
Cheann,  tri  lar-chinn,  Cleireach  Urramach,  Runaire,  lonmhasair, 
agus  coig  buill  eile — feumaidh  iad  uile  Gailig  a  thuigsinn  's  a 
bhruidhinn ;  agus  ni  coigear  dhiubh  coinneamh. 


GAELIC    SOCIETY    OF    INVERNESS. 


CONSTITUTION. 

1.  The  Society  shall  be  called  the   "GAELIC   SOCIETY  OP 
INVERNESS." 

2.  The  objects  of  the  Society  are  the  perfecting  of  the  Mem- 
bers in  the  use  of  the  Gaelic  language;  the  cultivation  of  the 
language,  poetry,  and  music  of  the  Scottish  Highlands ;  the  res- 
cuing from  oblivion  of  Celtic  poetry,  traditions,  legends,  books, 
and  manuscripts ;  the  establishing  in  Inverness  of  a  library,  to 
consist  of  books  and  manuscripts,  in  whatever  language,  bearing 
upon  the  genius,  the  literature,  the  history,  the  antiquities,  and 
the  material  interests  of  the  Highlands  and  Highland  people ;  the 
vindication  of  the  rights  and  character  of  the  Gaelic  people ;  and, 
generally,  the  furtherance  of  their  interests  whether  at  home  or 
abroad. 

3.  The  Society  shall  consist  of  persons  who  take  a  lively  in- 
terest in  its  objects,  admission  to  be  as  follows : — The  candidate 
shall  be  proposed  by  one  member,  seconded  by  another,  balloted 
for  at  the  next  meeting,  and,  if  he  or  she  have  a  majority  of  votes 
and  have  paid  the  subscription,  be  declared  a  member.    The  ballot 
shall  be  taken  with  black  beans  and  white ;  and  no  election  shall 
be  valid  unless  thirteen  members  vote.     The  Society  has  power  to 
elect  distinguished  men  as  Honorary  Chieftains  to  the  number  of 
seven. 

4.  The  Annual  Subscription  shall  be,  for — 

Honorary  Members     .         .         .  £0  10     6 

Ordinary  Members  .  .  .  .  050 
Apprentices  .  .  .  .  .  010 
A  Life  Member  shall  make  one  payment  of  7  7  0 

5.  The  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  Society  shall  be  en- 
trusted to  a  Council,  chosen  annually,  by  ballot,  in  the  month  of 
January,  to  consist  of  a  Chief,  three  Chieftains,  an  Honorary 
Secretary,  a  Secretary,  a  Treasurer,  and  five  other  Members  of  the 
Society,  all  of  whom  shall  understand  and  speak  Gaelic ;  five  to 
form  a  quorum. 


T  CO-SHUIDHEACHADH. 

6.  Cumar  coinneamhan  a'  Chomuinn  gach  seachduin  o  thois- 
each  an  Deicheamh  mios  gu  deireadh  Mhairt,  agus  gach  ceithir- 
la-deug  o  thoiseach  Ghiblein  gu  deireadh  an  Naothamh-mios.     'S 
i  a'  Ghailig  a  labhairear  gach  oidhche  mu'n  seach  aig  a  chuid  a's 
lugha. 

7.  Cuiridh  a'  Cho-chomhairle  la  air  leth  anns  an  t-Seachdamh- 
mios  air-son  Coinneamh  Bhliadhnail  aig  an  cumar  Co-dheuchainn 
agus  air  an  toirear  duaisean  air-son  Piobaireachd  'us  ciuil  Ghaidh- 
ealach  eile ;  anns  an  fheasgar  bithidh  co-dheuchainn  air  Leughadh 
agus  aithris  Bardachd  agus  Eosg  nuadh  agus  taghta ;  an  deigh  sin 
cumar  Cuirm  chuideachdail  aig  am  faigh  nithe  Gaidhealach  rogh- 
ainn  'san  uirghioll,  ach  gun  roinn  a  dhiultadh  dhaibh-san  nach  tuig 
Gailig.     Giulainear  cosdas  na  co-dheuchainne  le  trusadh  sonraichte 
a  dheanamh  agus  cuideachadh  iarraidh  o'u  t-sluagh. 

8.  Cha  deanar  atharrachadh  sam  bith  air  coimh-dhealbhadh  a' 
Chomuinn  gun  aontachadh  dha  thrian  de  na'm  bheil  de  luchd- 
bruidhinn  Gailig  air  a'  chlar-ainm.     Ma's  miann  atharrachadh  a 
dheanamh  a's  eiginn  sin  a  chur  an  ceill  do  gach  ball,  mios,  aig  a' 
chuid  a's  lugha,  roimh'n  choinneamh  a  dh'fheudas  ant-atharrachadh 
a  dheanamh.     Feudaidh  ball  nach  bi  a  lathair  roghnachadh  le 
lamh-aithne. 

9.  Taghaidh  an  Comunn  Bard,  Piobaire,  agus  Fear-leabhar- 
lann. 


Ullaichear  gach  Paipear  agus  Leughadh,  agus  giulainear  gach 
Deasboireachd  le  run  fosgailte,  duineil,  durachdach  air-son  na 
firinn,  agus  cuirear  gach  ni  air  aghaidh  ann  an  spiorad  caomh, 
glan,  agus  a  reir  riaghailtean  dearbhta. 


CONSTITUTION.  xi 

6.  The  Society  shall  hold  its  meetings  weekly  from  the  begin- 
ning of  October  to  the  end  of  March,  and  fortnightly  from  the 
beginning  of  April  to  the  end  of  September.     The  business  shall 
be  carried  on  in  Gaelic  on  every  alternate  night  at  least. 

7.  There  shall  be  an  Annual  Meeting  in  the  month  of  July, 
the  day  to  be  named  by  the  Committee  for  the  time  being,  when 
Competitions  for  Prizes  shall  take  place  in  Pipe  and  other  High- 
land Music.     In  the  evening  there  shall  be  Competitions  in  Read- 
ing and  Reciting  Gaelic  Poetry  and  Prose,  both  original  and  select. 
After  which  there  will  be  a  Social  Meeting,  at  which  Gaelic  sub- 
jects shall  have  the  preference,  but  not  to  such  an  extent  as 
entirely  to  preclude  participation  by  persons  who  do  not  under- 
stand Gaelic.     The  expenses  of  the  competitions  shall  be  defrayed 
out  of  a  special  fund,  to  which  the  general  public  shall  be  invited 
to  subscribe. 

8.  It  is  a  fundamental  rule  of  the  Society  that  no  part  of  the 
Constitution  shall  be  altered  without  the  assent  of  two-thirds  of 
the  Gaelic  speaking  Members  on  the  roll ;  but  if  any  alterations 
be  required  due  notice  of  the  same  must  be  given  to  each  member, 
at  least  one  month  before  the  meeting  takes  place  at  which  the 
alteration  is  proposed  to  be  made.     Absent  Members  may  vote  by 
mandates. 

9.  The  Society  shall  elect  a  Bard,  a  Piper,  and  a  Librarian. 


All  Papers  and  Lectures  shall  be  prepared,  and  all  Discussions 
carried  on,  with  an  honest,  earnest,  and  manful  desire  for  truth ; 
and  all  proceedings  shall  be  conducted  in  a  pure  and  gentle  spirit, 
and  according  to  the  usually  recognised  rules. 


INTRODUCTION. 


WE  have  now  pleasure  iu  presenting  the  Members  of  the 
Society  with  the  Ninth  Volume  of  Transactions.  In  doing  so 
we  may  be  permitted,  as  on  former  occasions,  to  make  a  brief 
reference  to  matters  of  interest  to  Highlanders  which  have 
occurred  since  the  publication  of  our  last  volume. 

The  Society  itself  has  been  active  in  promoting  all  patriotic 
but  non-political  movements  in  connection  with  the  High- 
lands. In  especial  it  continues  to  do,  as  it  has  always  done, 
whatever  is  in  its  power  towards  extending  and  popularising 
the  study  of  Celtic  language  and  literature.  In  this  it  has  been 
eminently  successful.  Twelve  years  ago,  the  number  of  High- 
landers in  the  towns  who  hesitated  to  admit  that  they  knew 
Gaelic — who  even  denied  having  a  knowledge  of  it — was 
surprisingly  large.  This  species  of  Highlander,  it  is  believed, 
is  now  well-nigh  extinct;  and  his  successor  of  the  present 
day  takes  pride  in  stating  that  he  can  converse  in  the  moun- 
tain tongue.  The  change  that  has  taken  place  in  this  way  is 
highly  significant,  and  the  Society  takes  credit  to  itself  for 
being  in  no  small  measure  instrumental  in  bringing  it  about, 
and  moulding  public  opinion  generally  in  favour  of  questions 
connected  with  the  Highlands. 

The  Society  has  always  endeavoured  to  preserve  our 
unwritten  Gaelic  literature,  and  we  would  here  appeal  to 
such  of  our  members  as  may  possess  unpublished  material  in 
connection  with  the  Highlands  and  Highland  people  to  send 
the  same  to  the  Secretary ;  and  if  it  be  considered  suitable 
and  within  the  scope  of  the  Society's  objects,  it  will  be 
published  in  the  Transactions.  The  folk-lore  and  legends 
of  the  Highlands  are  being  rapidly  lost,  for,  in  every  district, 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

the  old  people  who  know  these  best  are  gradually  passing 
away.  Members  would  do  well  to  write  down  as  much  as 
they  can  of  the  tales,  legends,  poetry,  and  song,  which  are 
still  floating  in  the  Highlands. 

Towards  the  end  of  1880  the  Society  took  an  active  part 
in  urging  on  the  Government  the  desirability  of  taking  a 
census  of  the  Gaelic-speaking  people  of  Scotland  in  connec- 
tion with  the  general  census  of  1881.  Such  a  census,  it  was 
pointed  out,  would  not  only  be  of  value  to  those  who  are 
endeavouring  to  promote  the  spread  of  education  in  the  High- 
lands, but  would  also  be  of  considerable  interest  to  the  future 
historian  of  our  country.  In  the  end  the  Home  Secretary 
conceded  our  demands.  The  concession,  however,  was  only 
made  after  the  census  papers  had  been  printed,  and  no  special 
column  for  Gaelic  was  therefore  included  in  them.  The 
instructions,  too,  to  registrars  with  regard  to  Gaelic  were  not 
so  definite  as  might  be  desired,  and  they  were  differently  inter- 
preted in  different  districts.  The  result  unfortunately  is 
that  the  census  cannot  be  accepted  as  strictly  accurate.  Such 
as  it  is,  however,  it  is  expected  to  give  a  fair  idea  of  the  large 
numbers  of  the  people  of  Scotland  who  still  speak  Gaelic,  and 
to  add  vastly  to  the  interest  of  the  census  generally.  Let  us 
hope  that  in  1891  a  more  detailed  Gaelic  census  will  be  taken 
— a  census  showing  (1)  the  number  who  speak  Gaelic  only ; 
(2)  the  number  who  know  both  Gaelic  and  English,  but  who 
use  Gaelic  as  the  language  of  their  homes;  and  (3)  the 
number  whose  mother  tongue  Gaelic  was  but  who  now  use 
English.  Our  large  towns  would  show  that  the  number  in 
the  last  class  is  very  great,  and  nothing  would  better  illus- 
trate to  what  extent  the  Highlands  in  every  decade  supplement 
the  population  of  these  towns.  The  census  of  1881  has  not 
yet  been  published ;  but  it  may  be  stated  that  Mr.  Fraser- 
Mackintosh,  at  considerable  trouble,  took  steps  to  ascertain 
the  number  of  the  Gaelic-speaking  population  of  the  three 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

Counties  of  Inverness,  Eoss,  and  Sutherland,  and  as  the  result 
of  his  investigations  he  puts  it  down  at  134,000.  , 

Books  on  matters  connected  with  the  Highlands  continue 
to  be  published.  Mr.  W.  F.  Skene  has  completed  his  great 
work,  "  Celtic  Scotland,"  and,  as  an  official  recognition  of  his 
services  in  the  domain  of  Celtic  history,  he  has  been  ap- 
pointed Historiographer-Koyal  for  Scotland  in  succession 
to  the  late  Mr.  John  Hill  Burton.  Mr.  Joseph  Anderson,  of 
the  Antiquarian  Museum  in  Edinburgh,  has  published  two 
volumes  on  "  Scotland  in  Early  Christian  Times,"  containing 
a  vast  amount  of  matter  connected  with  the  Highlands. 
Among  the  works  of  our  own  members  we  must  not  omit  to 
mention  the  publication  of  Mrs.  Mary  Mackellar's  Poems 
and  Songs ;  Mr.  A.  Mackintosh-Shaw's  "  History  of  the  Clan 
Chattan ; "  Mr.  Alex.  Mackenzie's  "  History  of  the  Clan  Mac- 
donald ; "  Sheriff  Nicolson's  "  Collection  of  Gaelic  Proverbs," 
&c.  All  these  are  works  of  great  interest  to  the  student  of 
Highland  literature  and  history.  Nor  must  we  omit  to  men- 
tion Mr.  Macintyre  North's  "Book  of  the  Club  of  True 
Highlanders,"  just  published. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  honour  that  has  been 
conferred  on  our  Celtic  historian,  Mr.  Skene.  The  following, 
which  we  quote  from  the  Pall  Mall  Gazette  of  the  16th  inst., 
is  significant : — "  The  Queen  has  been  pleased  to  grant  £50 
a-year  out  of  the  Civil  List  Fund  to  the  Eev.  J,  Jones 
(Idrisyn),  vicar  of  Llandysilio,  Cardiganshire,  in  recognition 
of  his  valuable  services  to  Welsh  literature"  Students  of 
Celtic  literature  were  formerly  looked  upon  as  men  who 
uselessly  frittered  away  their  time,  but  here  we  have  a 
gentleman  pensioned  for  his  services  to  Welsh  literature.  Let 
us  hope  that  ere  long  a  similar  reward  may  be  extended  to 
some  who  have  rendered  valuable  service  to  Gaelic  literature. 

In  conclusion,  we  must  refer  to  the  sad  havoc  which  death 
has  made  among  our  members  since  the  publication  of  our 


xvi  INTRODUCTION'. 

last  volume.  In  the  first  place  we  must  mention  the  great 
loss  which  Gaelic  literature  has  sustained  by  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  Alexander  Macgregor,  of  the  West  Church,  Inverness. 
In  him  the  Gaelic  Society  has  lost  a  warm  and  attached 
friend,  while  Inverness  has  lost  a  man  whose  place  will  not 
be  readily  filled  up.  The  members  of  this  Society  to  the 
number  of  200,  headed  by  Mr.  Fraser-Mackintosh,  M.P., 
formed  a  fitting  group  among  the  different  public  bodies 
that  attended  the  funeral.  We  have  also  lost  a  valued 
member  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Davidson  of  Tulloch.  He  was 
one  of  those  who  joined  the  Society  when  it  was  formed  in 
1871.  He  has  frequently  been  present  at  its  meetings,  and 
at  the  Annual  Assembly  in  July  last  he  supported  his  friend, 
Lochiel,  by  his  presence  on  the  platform.  The  others  whose 
death  we  lament,  but  whose  names  we  can  only  enumerate, 
are  : — Alexander  Fraser,  accountant,  Inverness ;  Dr.  Patrick 
Buchan,  Stonehaven ;  the  Earl  of  Seafield ;  Archd.  Cameron, 
Glenbar,  Kintyre  ;  John  Colvin,  solicitor,  Inverness  ;  Lachlan 
Davidson,  banker,  Kingussie ;  Dr.  G.  F.  Forbes,  late  of  the 
Bombay  Army,  Inverness  ;  John  Macdonald,  live  stock  agent, 
Inverness ;  E.  A.  Macdonald,  Ullinish,  Skye ;  Alexander 
MacLeod,  grocer,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness ;  and  Alexander 
MacLure,  Birmingham.  Let  us  hope  that  others  will  soon 
join  to  fill  the  blanks  thus  created  in  our  membership. 

INVERNESS,  Dec.,  1881. 


TEANSACTIONS. 


ANNUAL    ASSEMBLY. 

THE  Eighth  Annual  Assembly  of  the  Society  was  held  in  the 
Music  Hall,  Inverness,  on  Thursday,  10th  July,  1879.  The  Chief  of 
the  Society,  Mr.  Lachlan  Macdonald  of  Skaebost,  presided,  and,  as 
usual,  there  was  a  large  attendance  of  members  and  the  public. 
Along  with  the  Chief  on  the  platform  were — Professor  Blackie, 
Edinburgh  ;  Provost  Simpson,  Inverness  ;  Bailie  Noble,  do.  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Macgregor,  do. ;  Rev.  Mr.  Fraser,  Blair- Athole  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Cameron,  Brodick ;  Captain  A.  Macra  Chisholm,  Glassburn  ;  Mr. 
Macdonald,  Druidaig ;  Mr.  Colin  Chisholm,  Inverness  ;  Mr.  Jolly, 
H.  M.  Inspector  of  Schools,  do. ;  Mr.  Burgess,  banker,  Drumna- 
drochit ;  Major  Grant,  do.  ;  Mr.  Alexander  Mackenzie,  Inverness  ; 
Mr.  John  Murdoch,  do.  ;  Mr.  Charles  Mackay,  do.  ;  Capt.  Scobie, 
Midfearn  ;  Mr.  Charles  limes,  solicitor,  Inverness;  Mr.  Macleod, 
Scorrybreck ;  Mr.  Macleod,  Coulmore ;  Mr.  D.  P.  Macdonald, 
Invernevis  House,  Fort- William ;  Mr.  Neil  Scobie,  Lochinver,  &c. 
Apologies  for  unavoidable  absence  were  received  from  Mackintosh 
of  Mackintosh  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Maclachlan,  Tain  ;  Mr.  John  Mackay 
of  Benreay ;  Mr.  D.  Cameron  of  Clunes  ;  Mr.  Duncan  Forbes  of 
Culloden  ;  Mr.  John  Mackay,  Swansea ;  Mr.  Macintosh  of  Holme  ; 
Dr.  Charles  Mackay,  Dorking  ;  Sir  Kenneth  S.  Mackenzie  of  Gair- 
loch  ;  Mr.  Charles  Fraser-Makintosh,  M.P. ;  Mr.  Osgood  H.  Mac- 
kenzie of  Inverewe ;  the  Rev.  William  Watson,  Kiltearn  ;  Dr. 
Stratton,  Devonport;  General  Sir  Patrick  Grant,  G.C.B.,  Chelsea; 
Mr.  Thomas  Mackenzie,  Broadstone  Park,  Inverness ;  Mr.  N.  Mac- 
ionald,  Dunach,  &c. 

A  party  of  young  ladies  and  gentlemen  having  sung  the  popular 
Gaelic  song,  •'  Gabhaidh  Sinne  'n  Rathad  Mor," 

The  Chief  addressed  the  meeting.  My  first  duty,  he  said,  is  to 
express  to  the  members  of  the  Society  my  high  appreciation  of  the 
honour  they  have  conferred  on  me  by  electing  me  Chief,  and  placing 
me  in  the  proud  position  I  now  occupy.  (Cheers).  My  talking  of 


2  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

chief  and  chieftains  may  make  some  of  you  yourselves  ask  who  are 
the  chiefs  and  chieftains.  In  answer  to  this,  I  have  the  honour  to 
announce  to  you  that  I  am  the  Chief  on  this  occasion,  and  that  some 
of  the  gentlemen  on  the  platform  who  brought  me  here  are  the 
chieftains.  (Applause.)  Converting  me  from  an  ordinary  mortal 
into  a  live  Chief — (laughter) — is  not  a  solitary  exploit  of  the  kind 
on  their  part — (laughter)—  for  they  had  other  chiefs  here  before  me 
— for  instance,  that  chief  of  Celts,  Professor  Elackie,  who  presided 
here  on  more  than  one  occasion.  I  need  scarcely  seriously  mention 
that  the  chiefs  and  chieftains  of  the  Gaelic  Society  have  no 
idea  of  encroaching  on  the  privileges  of  other  chiefs  and  chief- 
tains— such  as  the  chiefs  of  clans — (hear,  hear) — and  after  this 
explanation,  should  any  one  be  so  minded  as  to  say  or  think  to 
oneself — why  so  much  about  chiefs  and  chieftains,  why  this 
unwarrantable  assumption  of  dignity — to  such  I  say  go  and  in- 
vest in  the  Transactions  of  this  Society,  and  you  will  there 
learn  all  about  the  functions  and  honours  pertaining  to  these  orders  ; 
and  in  addition  learn  in  detail  what  are  the  objects  of  the  Society 
over  which  they  preside.  The  objects  of  the  Society  are  the  en- 
couragement of  Gaelic  literature,  and  of  Highland  matters  in  gene- 
ral. When  the  dignity  I  have  just  referred  to  was  lirst  intimated 
to  me,  I  Avas  informed  at  the  same  time  that  my  first  public  duty 
would  be  to  make  a  speech  to  you  this  evening,  so  I,  of  course, 
looked  round  for  a  subject,  and,  debating  in  my  mind  what  it 
should  be,  I  had  to  consider  it  must  be  appropriate  and  suitable  to 
the  occasion,  and  within  the  range  of  the  Society's  recognised  pur- 
poses. Should  I  take  up  scenery,  or  refer  to  ancient  deeds  of  arms  1 
As  to  language  and  literature,  what  need  I  say,  considering  we  are 
to  have  an  address  from  the  Solicitor-General  of  the  Celts,  Professor 
Blackie ;  a  speech  from  my  old  friend  Sgitheanach,  and  another 
from  that  chieftian  among  Celtic  scholars,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cameron, 
of  Brodick  1  Leaving,  then,  the  language  and  literature  to  those  ac- 
complished scholars,  L  shall  take  up  another  subject,  and  that,  too, 
connected  with  the  Highlands.  The  Highlands,  to  people  in  the 
south  means  fine  scenery,  good  shooting  and  fishing,  and  a  holiday ; 
but  to  us,  Highlanders  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness,  the 
Highlands  means  more,  for  we  were  born  in  the  Highlands,  and  so 
were  our  ancestors  before  us.  We  are  therefore  linked  by  ties  of 
blood  to  the  past  and  present,  so  what  more  appropriate  subject 
can  I  take  up  than  the  crofter,  who  is  the  glory  of  the  Highlands, 
at  any  rate  ought  to  be  considered  so  by  every  Highlander.  With 
this  much  of  a  preface,  let  us  see  what  he  is,  and  what  he  ought  to 
be.  In  taking  up  the  crofter  as  my  subject  to  begin  with,  I  think 
it  will  be  admitted  that  in  some  instances  his  lot  is  a  hard  one,  and 


Annual  Assembly.  3 

in  other  cases  that  he  is  comparatively  well  off.  There  is  no  use 
now  in  blaming  this  or  that  man,  or  this  or  that  policy,  of  thinking 
of  former  evictions.  Railways  and  steamers  have  given  the  crofter 
of  the  present  day  the  means  of  disposing  of  his  marketable  goods 
(which  mean  his  labour)  on  much  more  favourable  terms  than  his 
ancestors  enjoyed.  Looking  at  him  as  the  public  see  him  at  present 
is  rather  confusing,  for  he  is  made  out  to  be  something  like  a 
chameleon,  and  does  not  appear  in  the  same  colour  to  every  body. 
His  opponents — and  some  of  them  are  very  hard  and  clear-headed — 
see  him  black  as  black  can  be,  and  recommend  eviction  as  the 
quickest  mode  of  his  extinction.  On  the  other  hand,  his  admirers 
see  him  white  as  snow,  and  possessed  of  virtues  denied  to  the  rest 
of  mankind.  My  own  experience  of  him  has  been  that  he  is  just 
like  other  mortals,  and  that  any  peculiarity  in  his  character  may 
readily  be  accounted  for  by  bearing  in  mind  that  he  is  the  child  of 
almost  two  centuries  of  hardships.  I,  of  course,  take  my  own  ex- 
perience to  be  the  correct  view  of  the  crofter,  and  I  further  think 
that  the  general  verdict  is  that  his  lot  might  be  considerably  im- 
proved. If  this  be  granted,  the  next  step  is  how  this  is  to  bo 
carried  out.  First,  I  think  as  the  laird  is  the  natural  leader  of 
the  crofter,  we  should  go  to  the  fountain  head.  Let  us  convince 
the  laird  that  improvement  is  practical — (applause) — and  that  men 
will  pay — (cheers) — and  we  have  gained  a  great  step,  as  we  shall 
have  his  assistance,  for  he  is  the  chief  party  interested  in  the  land  ; 
and  if  men  will  really  pay  better  than  sheep,  depend  on  it  the  laird 
will  not  be  slow  in  seeing  what  is  to  his  ultimate  advantage — (hear, 
hear).  Suppose  now  I  were  able  to  show  that  the  crofter  pays  the 
laird  better  than  the  sheep  farmer,  does  it  follow  our  present  system 
should  be  abolished  1  This  is  a  large  question  and  quite  another 
subject,  and  I  shall  not  refer  to  it  in  the  course  of  my  remarks,  fur- 
ther than  to  say  that  this  conclusion  would  not  altogether  follow. 
If  I  were  taking  up  the  land  question,  this  might  be  considered, 
but  in  a  word  I  may  say  that  it  would  be  a  very  great  mistake  to 
have  nothing  but  a  crofter  population.  What  is  best  suited  for  the 
Highlands  would  be  a  mixture  of  crofts  and  moderately-sized  farms. 
(Cheers).  Now,  if  what  1  have  said  can  be  considered  to  have 
any  sense  or  meaning,  the  first  question  is — How  is  it  this  has  not 
been  discovered  before  now  1  Surely  all  these  years  this  Highland 
grievance  of  crofters  has  been  before  the  public  some  laird  or  factor 
would  have  endeavoured  to  change  matters,  and  form  a  model 
village  that  would  serve  as  a  pattern  throughout  the  land.  In 
answer  to  this,  I  would  say  we  are  making  great  strides  in  those 
days,  and  granting  concessions  unknown  in  former  ones.  What  we 
may  now  look  upon  as  simply  bare  justice  to  a  class  might  be  looked 


4  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

upon  very  differently  by  our  fathers  and  grandfathers,  and  what 
readily  might  be  conceded  by  us  of  these  days,  would  in  those  days 
probably  have  been  looked  upon  as  the  highest  of  cheek,  which 
ought  to  be  crushed  in  the  bud  as  perhaps  dangerous  to  the  peace 
and  morality  of  the  country.  When  such  was  the  attitude,  how 
could  reform  go  on,  for  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  real  improve- 
ment must  be  carried  out  by  the  people.  But  this  can't  be  done 
without  encouragement.  Perhaps  attempts  at  reform  may  have 
been  tried,  and  failed  from  not  going  far  enough.  Eeformers'  ex- 
perience is  also  sometimes  very  discouraging.  Perhaps  a  hopeless 
case  of  laziness,  apathy,  or  seemingly  an  invincible  case  or  cases  of 
improvidence  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  crofters,  might  convince 
people  who  had  reform  at  heart  that  there  was  no  use  going  further 
with  it,  and  to  abandon  the  whole  thing  in  despair ;  or  perhaps  a 
few  cases  of  ingratitude  might  make  a  whole  class  appear  ungrate- 
ful. Some  think  that  all  reform  can  be  carried  out  by  legislation. 
Let  us  just  glance  at  how  legislation  might  affect  the  crofter.  On 
this  question  I  think  I  can  give  almost  an  authoritative  opinion  from 
my  Indian  experience,  as  the  position  of  the  cultivator  of  the  soil  in 
India  is  towards  his  proprietor  very  similar  to  that  of  the  crofter  to 
his  laird.  Well,  then,  let  me  tell  you  that  just  twenty  years  ago 
the  Indian  Government  enacted  a  rent  law  giving  the  tenants  in 
Bengal  rights  of  occupancy  on  certain  terms — and  fixing  their  rent 
rate  in  other  instances.  The  result  of  this  legislation,  and  of  several 
Acts  since  introduced  to  strengthen  the  position  of  the  tenant, 
has  not  had  the  effect,  as  one  might  fancy,  of  making  him  inde- 
pendent of  the  proprior  and  improving  his  condition.  The  practi- 
cal effect  of  this  law  has  been  that  he  has  been  harassed  in  the  Law 
Courts,  and  his  semi-independence  has  been  no  gain  to  him.  I  can- 
not give  you  a  logical  reason  for  objecting  to  legislation  between 
proprietor  and  tenant — I  only  ask  you  to  take  a  rough  and  ready 
way  of  reasoning  it  out,  and  bear  in  mind  the  simple  fact  that  any- 
thing in  the  shape  of  legislation  would  have  to  be  fixed  and  well- 
defined,  and  hard  and  fast  rules  would,  when  equally  applied,  in 
some  instances  work  well ;  in  other  cases  mean  confiscation.  The 
only  way  in  which  I  think  legislation  could  benefit  the  crofter 
would  be  by  giving  him  compensation  for  improvements.  (Ap- 
plause.) I  am  sure  this  would  work  well,  for  it  would  be  an  induce- 
ment to  thrift.  Perhaps  the  real  reason  why  our  crofters  are  in 
such  a  backward  condition  is  that  they  are  not  allowed  to  partici- 
pate in  improvements  effected  by  themselves.  In  former  times,  if 
one  improved  his  dwelling-house,  or  made  drains,  or  built  walls, 
&c.,  all  these  improvements  belonged  to  the  estate,  not  to  the 
tenant.  Indeed,  he  had  reason  to  fear  his  rent  might  be  raised  if 


Annual  Assembly.  5 

he  showed  signs  of  prosperity.  This  was  a  great  mistake,  as  it 
hindered  improvement,  and  experience  has  proved  to  us  that  to 
ensure  improvement  there  must  be  some  prospect  of  the  party 
effecting  it  to  be  allowed  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  labour.  Having 
touched  on  laird  and  crofter,  and  referred  to  where  and  how  the 
shoe  pinches,  I  shall  now  say  a  few  words  about  the  principal  fea- 
ture in  his  case,  being  his  social  position  and  how  it  might  be  im- 
proved. And  this,  I  think,  must  depend  more  on  civilization  than 
on  legislation,  as  the  social  condition  of  the  tenant  will  always  de- 
pend on  the  state  of  civilization  attained  by  proprietor  and  tenant 
respectively.  Granted  now  the  laird  is  alive  to  the  importance  of 
improvement,  his  desires  can  be  of  little  avail  unless  the  crofter  co- 
operates in  the  good  work.  How  to  attain  this  is  the  question.  I 
think  it  can  be  solved  by  patience  and  encouragement.  The  first 
step  in  the  direction  is,  I  think,  to  teach  the  crofter  his  importance 
to  himself  and  to  others.  True,  the  cow  pays  his  rent,  and  he  likes 
being  near  her,  as  there  will  be  less  danger  of  anything  happening 
to  her  if  she  is  in  the  same  house  with  him.  (Laughter.)  Yet  as 
lie  is  better  than  the  cow — the  one  is  a  lower  animal,  the  other  a 
human  being — he  should  have  a  separate  and  a  better  house.  (Ap- 
plause.) While  on  the  subject  of  dwelling-houses,  I  may  remark 
that  it  will  not  be  enough  to  tell  the  crofter  to  go  and  build  a  pro- 
per house,  and  that  be  will  get  a  bond  over  it.  It  would  be  as 
reasonable  to  take  a  man  who  could  not  swim  and  pitch  him  into 
the  river  Ness,  and  tell  him  to  swim  to  the  shore,  as  to  ask  the 
crofter  in  all  instances  to  build  a  good  house  for  himself.  He  simply 
could  not  do  it  if  you  made  him  a  present  of  the  land  on  which  it 
was  to  be  built,  but  the  laird  could  build  a  house  for  him.  Good 
rough  houses  can  be  put  up  for  £15  or  £20 — I  mean  the  walls  and 
roof  of  it — the  crofter  himself  can  do  up  the  inside,  and  on  the  out- 
lay for  building  the  walls  and  putting  on  the  roof  he  can  pay  inte- 
rest to  the  laird,  and  it  will  cost  the  laird  nothing,  as  he  can  raise 
it  from  the  bank.  (Hear,  hear.)  In  many  instances  the  crofters 
themselves  build  good  houses,  if  assured  of  compensation  for  the 
same  in  the  event  of  their  being  turned  out  of  their  buildings. 
(Applause.)  Another  matter  in  social  reform  which  should  not  be 
forgotten  is  the  importance  of  each  individual  of  the  crofter  com- 
munity in  the  village  council.  At  present  the  sheep  stock  on  crofter 
farms  is  managed  on  the  joint-stock  principle,  and  regular  managers 
are  appointed.  I  would  be  inclined  to  extend  this  principle  fur- 
ther, and  have  the  managers  appointed  to  do  all  the  public  business 
of  the  village — in  fact,  in  miniature,  as  municipal  matters  are 
managed  in  towns.  This  would  be  a  small  lesson  in  self-govern- 
ment which  is  a  thing  the  Celt,  as  a  rule,  is  much  in  need  of.  Now, 


6  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

last  and  not  least,  there  is  another  matter  I  would  refer  to,  which 
I  consider  would  be  a  great  boon,  as  it  would  raise  them  in  a  social 
scale,  but  the  question  is  a  double-headed  monster,  and  can  be 
viewed  in  two  aspects — namely,  a  political  and  a  social  one.  I  beg 
every  one  present  to  understand  that  I  pledge  my  word,  I  do  not 
look  at  it  from  its  political  aspect,  and  if  I  considered  it  so  it  would 
be  out  of  place  to  refer  to  it  at  a  social  gathering  of  this  kind  where 
many  of  us  might  entertain  different  views,  but  I  think  it  would 
have  such  a  social  effect  on  the  crofter  that  I  trust  that  the  bare 
mention  of  it  will  not  call  for  a  hiss — I  mean  giving  the  rural  popu- 
lation a  Parliamentary  vote,  or  in  other  words,  what  is  known  as 
the  equalization  of  the  county  with  the  burgh  franchise.  (Loud 
cheering). 

The  following  telegram  was  at  this  stage  read,  amid  loud  ap- 
plause, from  Mrs.  Mary  Mackellar,  the  Bard  of  the  Society : — "  Failt, 
air  a'  Chomunn  !  Oidhche  chridheil  duibh  !  Beannachd  shonruichte 
do  m'  chairdean,  Blackie,  an  Sgiathanach,  Uilleam  MacCoinnich,  an 
Ceilteach,  agus  an  t-Ard-Albannach." 

Mr.  Donald  Graham,  Oban,  sang  in  capital  spirit  "  Ho  ro  cha 
mi  bhi  gad'  chaoidh  ni's  mo,"  for  which  he  was  encored,  as  was  also 
Mr.  J.  A.  Eobertson,  who  followed  with  "  Macgregor's  Gathering." 
Pipe-Major  Mackenzie,  Highland  Eifle  Militia,  Messrs.  D.  H.  Fer- 
guson and  James  Eeid,  Inverness,  and  Mr.  Donald  Graham  then 
appeared  in  full  Highland  costume,  and  danced  the  Highland  fling 
in  a  manner  that  called  forth  the  enthusiastic  applause  of  the 
audience.  Miss  Young  then  sang  sweetly  and  tastefully  "  Mairi 
Laghach." 

The  Eev.  Alex.  Macgregor,  M.A.,  who  was  the  next  speaker, 
was  received  with  loud  applause — He  spoke  as  follows  : — Fhir- 
suidhe  urramaich, — Is  e  so  an  t-ochdamh  coinneamh  mhor,  bhliadh- 
nail  aig  Comunn  Gailig  Inbhirneis,  agus  tha  mi  'n  dochas  gu'n  toir 
i  barrachd  air  a'  chuid  eile  gu  leir, — agus  gu'm  bi  i  na  meadhon  air 
na  Gaidheil  air  fad,  a  dhusgadh  suas  chum  neart,  misneachd,  tapadh 
agus  deinead,  a  chom-pairteachadh  ris  gach  ball  a  bhuineas  do'n 
Chomunn.  Tha  uaill  nach  beag  orm  fein,  maille  ri  toil-intinn  do- 
chur  an  ceill,  gu'm  bheil  Sgiathanach  na  cheann  feadhna  air  a'  Cho- 
munn so  an  nochd.  Is  ni  airidh  agus  cliu-thoilltinneach,  gu'm 
biodh  duin'-uasal  a  rugadh  agus  a  dh'araicheadh  ann  an  "  Eilean  a' 
Cheo,"  air  a  shuidheachadh  anns  a'  chaitbir  sin  an  nochd.  Tha  so 
a'  cur  urraim  air  an  Eilean  fein,  agus  is  mor  an  t-urram  a  thoill  e. 
Cha'n  fhaighear  fad  agus  leud  an  Eilein  Sgiathanaich  ann  an  Eiogh- 
achd  na  h-Alba  gu  leir,  a  sholair  co  liuthad  saighdear,  sa  rinn  an 
t-Eilean  so,  chum  cuisean  na  rioghachd  a  dhionadh  anns  gach  cear- 
naidh  dhe'n  t-saoghal.  O'n  am  'san  do  thoisich  cogadh  America, 


Annual  Assembly.  ? 

corr  is  ccud  bliadhua  roimli  so,  tha  e  air  a  dlieanamh  mach  gu'n  do 
sholair  an  t-Eilean  Sgiathanach  aon  thar  fhichead  Seanalair  agus 
Ard-Sheanalair  ;  ochd  agits  da  fhichead  Coirneal  de  gach  inbh  ;  a 
thuilleadli  air  sin,  sholair  e  sea  ceud  oitigeach,  eadar  Maidsearan, 
Caiptcanan,  agus  Oicliearan  eile.  Maille  riu  sin  chuir  an  t-Eilean 
so  a  mach  deich  mile  saighdear-coise,  a  thuilleadli  air  sea  fichead 
piobair.  Ach  is  lionmhor  dreuchd  chudthromach  eile  a  lionadh  le 
Sgiathanaich  anus  gach  cearnaidh  dhe'n  t-saoghal.  Thogadh  ceath- 
rar  Sgiathanach  gu  bhi  nan  Eiaghladairibh  fo  Bhrcatuinn  anns  na 
talmhainnibh  a  mach  ;  thogadh  fear  eile  gu  bhi  'na  Phriomh  Eiagh- 
ladair  'sna  h-Innsibh  ;  fear  eile  gu  bhi  'na  Ard-cheannard-feachd  ; 
fear  eile  'na  Phriomh-Bharan  air  Sasuinn  ;  agus  fear  eile  'na  Bhreith- 
eamh  ann  an  Ard  chuirt  'na  h-Alba  !  Cha'n  ioghnadh  ma  ta,  gcd 
a  bhuilicheadh  an  t-Eilean  ainmeil  so  aon  duiii'-uasal  ceanalta 
dhuinne,  gu  bhi  'na  cheannard  thairis  oirnne  'an  nochd.  Is  fior 
Ghaidheal  e  fein,  agus  tha  e  aige  mar  dhualchas  a  bhi  deidheil  air 
gach  ni  a  bhuineas  do  na  Gaidheil  agus  don'  Ghaidhealtachd.  Tha 
mi,  uinie  sin,  an  dochas,  gu'n  dean  e  gach  dichioll  'na  chornus,  gu 
impidh  a  chur  air  gach  Sgiathanach,  o  K'utha-Shleibhte  gu  Eutha- 
Hunish  gu  bhi  'nam  buill  do  Chomunn  Gailig  Inbhirneis.  An  e 
gu'n  robh  na  Sgiathanaich  co  cliuiteach  air  son  an  gaisge  agus  an 
dillseachd  anns  na  linntibh  a  dh'fhalbh,  agus  nach  dean  an  sliochd, 
no  sliochd  an  sliochd,  spairn  sain  bith  chum  canain  agus  clcsch 
dannan  an  sinnsear  fein  a  chuniail  air  chuimhne  1  Cha'n  fhcum 
so  tachairt,  oir  chuireadh  e  bron  air  an  Olladh  Blackie  fein  a 
chuir  coman  nach  beag  air  a'  Chomunn  againn  le  bhi'  lathair  an  so 
nochd.  Is  miorbhuileach  an  duine  e,  oir  ged  nach  d'rugadh  e  'na 
Ghaidheal,  rinn  e  gach  ni  na  chomus  chum  Gaidheal  a  dheanamh 
dheth  fein.  Dh'ionnsuich  e  a'  Ghailig,  thog,  agus  shuidhich  e 
Cathair-Ghailig,  cheannuich  e  oighreachd  anns  a'  Ghaidhealtachd, 
tha  e,  uime  sin,  na  Uachdaran  Gaidhealach  ;  agus  tha  a  chridlu; 
agus  a  thograidhean  air  an  steidheachadh  air  gach  ni  a  tha  Gaidh- 
ealach. Gu  ma  fada  beo  e  agus  gu'n  robh  e  air  a  chaomhnadh  re 
iomadh  bliadhna,  mar  fhear-daimh  don'  Chomunn  so  agus  mar  cha- 
raid  do  na  Gaidheil  air  fad.  'S  mor  an  toil-inninn  a  tha  again  ann 
a  bhi  faicinn  gu'm  bheilaat-Ard  sgoilear  Gaidhlig  sin  Mr.  Camaran 
a  Renton  no  a  uis  a  Braodhaig,  an  so.  Tha  so  a'  cur  urraim  air  a 
choinneimh,  air  a'  Chomunn  agns  air  an  aoblmr ;  agus  bii  mhath 
leam  gu'm  tugadli  sibh  failte  dha  nach  leig  e  as  a  chuimhne.  Fhir- 
suidhe  ionmhuinn,  cha  lean  mi  ni's  faide, — cha  saruich  mi  foighidinn 
nan  Gall — tha  moran  romhainn  fhathast,  tha  'n  uine  a'  deann  ruith 
seachad, — agus  cha  dean  maille  no  mairnealachd  an  gnothuch.  Gu 
robh  buaidh  agus  beannachd  maille  ris  a'  Chomunn,  agus  ris  gach 
neach  a  tha  lathair.  (Cheers.) 


8  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

The  musical  party  then  gave  "  Gu  ma  slan  a  chi  mi" — this 
popular  favourite  being  heartily  received.  An  interval  afterwards 
took  place,  during  which  the  Piper  of  the  Society,  Pipe-Major 
Maclennan,  and  Pipe-Major  Ronald  Mackenzie,  late  of  the  78th 
Highlanders,  and  now  of  the  Highland  Rifle  Militia,  played  a  selec- 
tion of  Highland  music. 

The  second  part  of  the  programme  was  opened  with  "  Air 
faillirin,  illirin,  uillirin,  0,"  which  was  sung  with  much  spirit. 
Another  song  having  been  given  by  Mr.  Graham, 

Professor  Blackie  was  the  next  speaker.  On  rising  he  was  re- 
ceived with  prolonged  cheers.  Addressing  his  audience,  "  Ladies 
and  gentlemen,  men,  brethren,  and  sisters  of  the  Comunn  Gailig  of 
Inverness,"  he  proceeded  to  say  he  seldom  felt  more  embarassed  in 
his  life,  and  seldom  more  pleased,  because  nothing  pleased  him 
more  than  when  he  was  in  the  midst  of  people  who  were  pouring 
out  their  souls — gushing  out  their  natural  feelings  as  the  waters 
flow  from  the  breasts  of  Ben-Nevis.  He  expressed  in  sweeping 
terms  the  deepest  contempt  for  two  classes  of  Highlanders — those 
who  fawned  on  the  Saxon,  who  profess  they  were  born  to  be  the 
humble  servants  of  the  Saxon,  and  who  tried  to  take  as  much  money 
out  of  him  as  possible  ;  and  those  snobs  and  sneaks — (laughter) — 
those  fellows  who  were  ashamed  of  being  what  God  Almighty  made 
them,  namely,  Highlanders.  (Applause.)  Highlanders,  he  said, 
were  the  noblest  of  men — the  men  who  fought  the  battles  of  their 
country  in  every  quarter  of  the  globe,  and  the  men  who  were  ever 
foremost  in  promoting  the  best  interests  of  Great  Britain.  (Applause.) 
"  I  can  only  say,"  he  continued,  "that  I  am  heartily  ashamed  of 
those  who  are  ashamed  of  being  Gaelic-speaking  Highlanders. 
(Applause.)  I  know  of  no  creature  more  contemptible,  and  God 
grant  that  I  shall  be  kept  a  hundred  miles  away  from  all  such. 
(Laughter  and  applause.)  I  didn't  mean  to  say  this,  but  I  have 
said  it ;  and  now  I  shall  say  that  it  gives  me  the  greatest  delight 
and  pleasure  to  be  amongst  people  who  respect  themselves,  and  by 
their  self-respect  pass  a  vote  of  thanka  to  God  Almighty  for  having 
made  them  as  they  are,  Hielanders."  (Laughter  and  applause.) 
He  next  denounced  those  who  depreciated  Highland  music.  "  No- 
thing stirs  my  indignation  so  much  as  the  ignorance,  the  pedantry, 
and  the  intellectual  pride  of  professors,  schoolmasters,  and  inspec- 
tors sometimes — no,  not  Jolly,  however.  (Laughter.)  No,  no, 
Jolly  is  a  very  good  fellow — a  capital  fellow.  (Loud  laughter  and 
applause).  But,  I  say  those  professors,  schoolmasters,  inspectors— 
some  inspectors,  I  mean — (laughter) — School  Boards,  Red  Tape 
managers  up  in  London — and  the  further  away  the  worse — (laugh- 
ter)— these  fellows  imagine  and  tell  you  that  there  is  nothing  in 


Annual  Assembly.  9 

music  and  song."  He  likened  the  Gaelic  songs  to  the  psalms  of 
David.  "  But  for  all  that  some  Hielan'  ministers  will  tell  you  that 
you  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  listen  to  their  stupid  sermons. 
(Laughter.)  But  I  tell  them  here  that  when  they  try  to  put  down 
or  discourage  the  cultivation  of  these  fine  old  Gaelic  songs,  they 
stamp  out  all  that  is  best  and  noblest  in  the  soul  of  the  Scottish 
Highlander.  (Loud  applause.)  His  real  speech,  he  said,  he  had 
written  for  his  friend,  Mr.  Murdoch,  and  he  would  only  indicate  the 
heads  of  it.  He  agreed  with  Murdoch  in  many  things,  but  protested 
against  some  of  his  ideas,  especially  the  idea  that  a  glass  of  water 
was  better  than  a  glass  of  wine.  (Laughter).  "  I  can't  understand 
that.  (Eenewed  laughter.)  He  must  have  borrowed  that  idea  from 
the  ministers  who  speak  against  the  Gaelic  songs  and  against  a  glass 
of  wine,  because,  very  often,  they  have  no  wine — (laughter) — but 
David  said  that  a  glass  of  wine  maketh  glad  the  heart  of  man  ;  and 
so  long  as  he  said  that,  I  '11  enjoy  a  glass  of  wine  in  spite  of 
Murdoch  or  any  one."  The  "real  speech"  which  the  worthy  Pro- 
fessor wrote  was  as  follows  : — 

There  was  a  notable  debate  Upstairs  last  week  on  agricultural 
distress.  That  is  a  theme  which  touches  the  Highlands  as  much  as 
the  Lowlands  ;  we  have  had  agricultural  distress  to  complain  of 
long  before  John  Bull  began  to  dream  of  it,  and  something  more 
than  distress. 

PRODUCTION  AND  PRODUCERS. 

A  few  remarks  on  this  subject,  not  specially  touched  upon  Up- 
stairs, may  not  seem  out  of  season  at  the  present  moment.  Since 
the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  and  somewhat  earlier, 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  have  suffered  largely  from  the  taint  of  a 
false  principle  of  social  science,  borrowed  from  the  economists, 
which,  though  veiled  for  a  season  by  a  growth  of  monstrous  pro- 
sperity in  certain  limbs  of  the  body  politic,  is  now  beginning  to  re- 
veal its  essential  hollowness,  and  to  inspire  the  most  sanguine  with 
no  very  cheerful  forebodings  as  to  the  future,  both  of  our  industrial 
activity  and  our  agrarian  culture.  This  false  principle  is  that  the 
wealth  of  a  country  consists  in  money,  not  in  men  ;  in  the  quantity  or 
quality  of  merely  material  products,  without  regard  to  the  quantity  or 
the  quality  of  the  producers.  As  opposed  to  the  old  feudal  principle 
by  which  society  was  held  together  for  many  centuries,  it  is  some- 
times called  the  commercial  principle,  and  is  generally  represented 
by  the  fashionable  philosophy  of  the  hour  as  an  immense  advance 
on  that  which  precedes  it.  But  this  is  very  far  from  being  the  case. 
The  feudal  burdens  and  the  feudal  privileges  that  in  France  caused 
the  great  revolution  of  1789,  the  starting  point  of  our  modern 


10  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

social  movements,  represented  not  the  feudal  system  in  its  natural 
vigour  and  healthy  action,  but  in  a  state  of  corruption  and  de- 
cadence ;  besides  that  in  the  Highlands  at  least  it  was  not  the 
feudal  system  which  was  supplanted  by  the  commercial  system,  but 
the  old  system  of  clanship  which  had  its  root,  not  in  military  con- 
quest, but  in  family  kinship.  Now,  what  does  this  commercial 
system  mean  as  an  acting  power  in  the  great  machine  of  society  ? 
I  am  afraid  we  must  distinctly  say  that  if  left  to  its  own  action,  and 
unseasoned  by  higher  influences,  it  means  mere  selfishness.  It 
means  money  ;  it  deals  with  purely  material  considerations,  not 
only  divorced  from,  but  not  seldom  altogether  opposed  to  what  is 
moral ;  it  means  buying  in  the  cheapest  market  and  selling  in  the 
dearest  market;  it  means  taking  every  possible  advantage  of  a 
weak  and  ignorant  neighbour  for  your  own  gain  ;  it  means  not 
merely  spoiling  the  Egyptians — which  was  a  very  legitimate  thing 
in  the  circumstances — but  it  means  spoiling  the  whole  world  with- 
out regard  to  the  happiness,  comfort,  or  well-being  of  your  fellow- 
creatures,  provided  you  enrich  yourself.  If  you  think  this  strong 
language,  remember  what  I  have  just  said,  that  the  pure  commercial 
spirit,  especially  in  a  country  like  Great  Britain,  composed  of  a  re- 
markable variety  and  contrariety  of  social  elements,  is  counteracted 
by  a  number  of  kindly  influences  which  temper  its  virus  consider- 
ably, and  shorten  its  range.  But  fundamentally  the  proposition 
stands  true — there  is  nothing  generous,  chivalrous,  or  noble  in  trade  ; 
the  striking  a  bargain  and  the  making  of  a  profit  is,  or  must  be,  a 
selfish  business  ;  and  if  the  whole  world  were  constituted  up  to 
the  highest  power  on  the  commercial  principle,  society  would  be 
divided  into  two  great  classes,  one  striving  to  over-reach  the  other 
and  the  other  class  too  clever  and  too  strong  to  be  over-reached  ; 
generally,  however,  as  the  world  is  constituted,  men  whose  rule  of 
life  is  the  trade  principle,  find  a  party  on  whose  weakness  and 
whose  ignorance  they  can  act  in  building  up  a  gigantic  fortune  for 
themselves  at  the  expense  of  their  poorer  neighbours.  For  such  a 
state  of  society,  when  the  whole  world  is  viewed  as  a  bazaar  and  the 
people  of  the  world  a  congregation  of  shopkeepers,  there  can  be  no 
room  for  any  kindly  considerations  of  human  kindness  as  a  cement 
of  society.  The  only  bond  of  society  in  a  bazaar  is  cash  payment. 
But  the  actual  world  is  not  a  bazaar,  neither  are  all  men  always 
shopkeepers,  and  eager  in  every  transaction  of  the  twenty-four 
hours  for  a  pecuniary  profit ;  the  world,  in  truth,  were  not  worth 
living  in  if  it  were  so.  Society  in  the  proper  sense  of  the  word 
would  not  be  possible  ;  a  virtual  war  would  take  its  place,  of  every 
man  against  every  man  to  cheapen  his  neighbour's  value  and  to 
raise  his  own.  It  is  plain,  therefore,  that  the  commercial  system  as 


Annual  Assembly.  11 

a  binding  principle  of  human  association  is  a  mistake  ;  it  is  a  prin- 
ciple in  its  nature  essentially  anti-social ;  for  the  only  natural  bond 
of  society  is  mutual  dependence,  mutual  esteem,  and  mutual  love. 
Of  this  true,  natural,  and  healthy  bond  between  the  different  classes 
of  society,  there  was  a  great  deal  in  the  so-called  feudal  system  of 
the  clans  ;  in  the  modern  and  commercial  system,  borrowed  from 
trade;  there  is  none  of  it ;  and  we  see  the  consequences.  Since  the 
commercial  inspiration  became  dominant  in  the  Highlands,  money 
has  increased,  but  men  have  decreased.  Money,  which  in  its  legiti- 
mate sphere  is  a  grand  engine  of  social  progress,  and  ought  always 
to  mean,  when  applied  to  any  given  country,  an  acceleration  of  use- 
ful exchanges  among  the  people  of  the  country,  has  in  the  High- 
lands of  Scotland  asserted  its  presence  by  causing  the  people  alto- 
gether to  disappear,  among  whom  exchanges  were  to  be  accelerated. 
How  should  this  have  taken  place  ?  Simply  because  certain  great 
landed  proprietors,  taught  by  their  own  natural  unselfishness,  and 
the  doctrines  of  a  certain  school  of  economists,  usurping  the  throne 
of  social  science,  after  losing  the  authority,  and  the  social  status, 
which  previous  to  the  brilliant  blunder  of  Forty-five,  they  had  en- 
joyed, began  to  make  money  their  chief  god,  and,  descending  from 
the  moral  platform  of  protectors  of  the  people,  to  the  material  level 
of  traffickers  in  land,  to  look  upon  the  swift  increase  of  rents  as  the 
only  test  of  social  well-being ;  and  with  this  view,  whenever  the 
existence  of  the  people  or  the  soil  tended  to  retard  the  return  of 
large  immediate  pecuniary  profit  into  their  pockets,  they  did  not 
hesitate  to  sacrifice  the  people,  and  to  respect  their  pockets.  Of 
course,  I  am  not  bringing  any  charge  here  against  whole  classes  of 
men,  nor  do  I  by  any  means  intend  to  say  that  the  landlords  of 
Great  Britain  generally  are  the  wicked  class  of  society,  as  John 
Stuart  Mill  said  they  were  the  stupid  class.  I  am  merely  stating 
the  strong  features  of  the  case  that  you  may  see  how  the  commercial 
principle,  according  to  undeniable  statistical  evidence,  did  act  when 
it  became  securely  enthroned  in  the  breast  of  certain  of  our  landed 
proprietors  in  the  Highlands  ;  though  at  the  same  time  I  am  not  so 
ignorant  of  the  social  history  of  this  country,  as  to  imagine  that  the 
pure  selfishness  of  the  commercial  spirit  could  have  achieved  the 
destruction  and  degradation  of  our  Highland  peasantry,  which  we 
now  have  to  lament  on  so  portentous  a  scale,  had  it  not  been  as- 
sisted by  other  influences  all  converging  in  a  series  of  rash,  unreasoned 
plunges  to  the  same  disastrous  result.  But  favoured  by  these  de- 
socialising  influences  and  unhappy  circumstances,  a  certain  number, 
I  fear  a  majority  of  our  landed  proprietors,  did  what  they  did,  and 
contributed  more  or  less  to  the  agrarian  ruin  of  the  people  whom  it 
was  their  duty  to  protect.  And  now  let  us  see  a  little  more  in  de- 


12  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

tail  what  forms  this  unsocial  work  of  rural  depopulation  in  the 
special  circumstances  of  the  Scottish  Highlands  naturally  assumed. 
The  first  shape  that  the  commercial  inspiration  took  was  in  a  de- 
mand for 

LARGE  FARMS 

of  eveiy  kind,  but  especially  sheep  farms.  What  is  the  advantage 
of  large  farms  1  They  enable  the  proprietor  to  fish  his  rent  at  one 
cast  from  the  pocket  of  one  big  tenant,  rather  than  from  the  pockets 
of  ten  small  tenants ;  with  this  convenience  the  laird  is  naturally 
very  much  pleased,  and  his  factor  more  so  ;  one  big  farm  house 
also  with  steadings  costs  less  than  ten  little  ones ;  and  further, 
when  you  have  got  rid  of  the  poorer  class  of  the  peasantry  by 
shovelling  them  into  the  nearest  burgh,  driving  them  into  the  Glas- 
gow factories,  or  shipping  them  across  the  seas,  you  will  have  no 
poor-rates  to  pay  and  no  poachers  to  fear.  It  may  be  also,  in  cer- 
tain cases,  that  you  increase  the  productiveness  of  your  land  by 
diminishing  the  number  of  the  producers.  But  this  is  by  no  means 
either  a  clear  or  a  general  case  ;  and  any  person  who  doubts  the 
superior  productiveness  of  small  farms  in  many  cases  has  only  to 
divest  himself  of  the  shallow  cant  of  a  certain  class  of  easy  factors 
and  ignorant  lairds,  and  cast  a  glance  into  the  agricultural  statistics 
of  Belgium,  France,  Tuscany,  Denmark,  Germany,  and  other  Conti- 
nental countries.  Besides,  even  supposing  the  laird  and  the  big 
farmer  could  divide  a  few  hundreds  more  between  them,  when  the 
big  farmer  got  possession  of  the  whole  district,  dispossessing  all  the 
original  tenants,  the  State  wants  men,  and  Society  wants  men,  and 
the  country  demands  its  fair  share  of  population  as  well  as  the  town, 
and  granting  for  the  moment  that  so  much  greater  production  in  the 
shape  of  money  is  the  supreme  good,  it  is  not  the  quantity  of 
money  in  the  pockets  of  the  few,  but  the  money  well  distributed 
and  fairly  circulating  through  the  pockets  of  the  many,  in  which 
the  real  well-being  of  a  district  consists.  If  in  one  district,  with  a 
rental  say  of  £10,000,  we  were  to  find  a  population  of  two  hundred 
families,  small  proprietors  or  small  tenants,  all  resident  on  the  spot, 
applying  themselves  assiduously  with  their  own  hand  to  the  culti- 
vation of  the  soil,  forming  a  pleasant  society  among  themselves,  and 
spending  their  money  mostly  hi  the  district,  or  not  very  far  from 
it ;  and  if  in  another  district  of  the  same  rental  we  found  one 
wealthy  laird  with  only  half-a-dozen  big  farmers,  does  any  person 
imagine  that  the  latter  represents  a  more  natural  or  a  more  desir- 
able condition  of  agrarian  life  than  the  other  ]  In  all  likelihood 
the  proprietor,  with  such  surplusage  of  cash,  will  begin  to  think  him- 
self too  mighty  to  live  quietly  with  quiet  people  in  the  country ;  he 


Annual  Assembly.  13 

must  go  to  London  and  spend  his  money  in  idle  luxury,  slippery 
dissipation  and  perilous  gambling  there ;  or  he  may  go  to  Florence 
and  buy  pictures  ;  or  to  Rome  and  traffic  in  antiquities ;  or  to 
Frankfort  and  swallow  sovereigns  for  a  brag  in  the  shape  of  large 
draughts  of  Johannis  Berger — all  ways  of  spending  money,  for 
which  British  society  is  little  or  nothing  the  better,  and  the  district 
of  which  God  made  the  spender  the  natural  head  and  protector, 
certainly  a  great  deal  the  worse.  And  in  case  you  should  be  in- 
clined to  think  that  my  advocacy  of  small  farms  is  the  talk  of  an 
unpractical  sentimentalist,  I  refer  you  to  the  solid  and  sensible  re- 
marks of  the  Karl  of  Airlie  on  the  same  theme,  in  the  current  num- 
ber of  the  Fortnightly  Rei'ien:  So  much  for  the  lamentable  results 
of  the  commercial  spirit  which,  substituting  the  love  of  money  for 
the  love  of  men  as  the  alone  bond  of  connection  between  the  dif- 
ferent classes  of  society,  has  culminated  in  that  antagonism  of  tend- 
encies and  hostility  of  interests  which  are  so  frequently  seen  in 
the  Highlands  between  the  lord  of  the  land  and  the  cultivator  of  the 
soil.  Another  inadequate  principle  adapted  by  the  proprietor  from 
our  doctrinaire  economists  is  the 

DIVISION  OP  LABOUR  : 

a  principle  well-known  to  Plato  and  Aristotle,  and  which,  within 
certain  limits,  is  essential  to  progress  of  human  beings  in  the  utili- 
ties and  the  elegancies  of  life,  but  which,  when  allowed  full  swing 
according  to  the  favourite  fashion  of  our  economical  materialists, 
makes  us  pay  too  dearly  for  the  multiplication  of  dead  products  by 
the  deterioration  and  degradation  of  the  living  producer.  To  create 
and  perpetuate  a  race  of  men  who  can  do  nothing  but  make  pin 
heads,  is  no  doubt  a  very  excellent  arrangement  for  the  pin  heads, 
but  a  very  bad  arrangement  for  the  heads  of  the  men  who  make 
them.  Apply  this  to  the  Highlands  and  see  how  it  works.  The 
old  Highlander  was  a  man  who  could  put  his  hand  to  anything,  had 
always  a  shift  for  every  difficulty,  and  has  proved  himself  the  fore- 
most man  in  any  colony  ;  but  the  existence  of  such  a  shifty  fellow 
being  contrary  to  the  universal  application  of  the  doctrine  to  which 
modern  society  owes  the  infinite  multiplication  of  pin  heads,  dolls' 
eyes,  brass  buttons,  and  other  glorious  triumphs  of  modern  art,  we 
must  improve  society  in  the  Highlands  by  his  extermination,  or  cer- 
tainly by  his  expatriation  ;  for  according  to  the  great  principle  of 
the  division  of  labour  scientifically  applied  to  the  Highlands,  that 
part  of  the  world  once  so  absurdly  populous  and  so  clumsily  vari- 
ous, should  contain  only  three  classes  of  men — Lowland  shepherds 
to  attend  Lowland  sheep,  English  lords  and  millionaires  to  run  after 
Highland  deer  for  two  months  in  tbe  autumn,  and  Highland  game- 


H  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

keepers  to  look  after  the  deer  when  the  south  country  Nimrods  are 
not  there.  No  person,  of  course,  will  imagine  that  in  these  remarks 
I  wish  to  run-a-muck  against  such  a  native  and  characteristically 
Highland  sport  as 

STALKING  THE  DEER. 

It  is  in  the  school  of  deerstalking  that  our  best  military  men 
and  great  geographical  explorers  have  been  bred.  It  is  only  when 
deerstalking  is  conducted  on  commercial  principles  that  it  interferes 
with  the  proper  cherishing  of  population  in  the  country,  and  is  to 
be  looked  upon  with  suspicion  by  the  wise  statesman  and  the  patri- 
otic citizen.  Certain  extensive  districts  of  the  Highlands  are  the 
natural  habitation  of  the  deer,  and  no  man  objects  to  hunting  them 
or  shooting  them  there.  But  when  extensive  tracts  of  country  are 
enclosed  and  fenced  round,  and  sent  into  the  market  as  deer  forests, 
the  State  has  certainly  a  right  to  enquire  whether  this  is  done  in 
such  a  way  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  well-being  of  the  human 
population  who  have  for  centuries  inhabited  happy  dwellings,  along 
the  green  fringes  and  sheltered  nooks  which  belong  to  these  wild 
districts.  Now,  the  fact  I  am  afraid  is,  that  under  the  action  of 
commercial  principles  the  human  kind  are  sometimes  sacrificed  to 
the  brute  kind,  and  a  whole  district,  once  dotted  with  a  happy 
population,  systematically  cleared  of  men,  that  it  may  be  plentifully 
stocked  with  deer.  For  it  is  impossible  not  to  see  that  the  professed 
deerstalker  is  the  natural  enemy  of  the  human  population  on  his 
borders  ;  and,  if  he  has  paid  down  some  £2000  or  £3000  a  year  for 
the  monopoly  of  shooting  stags  within  a  certain  range,  he  will  think 
himself  fairly  entitled,  on  the  mercantile  principle,  to  demand  from 
the  proprietor,  that  as  many  of  the  poor  tenantry  as  hang  incon- 
veniently on  the  skirts  of  his  hunting  ground  shall  be  ejected  there- 
from as  soon  as  possible,  and  no  new  lease  granted  ;  while,  if  he  is 
the  proprietor  himself  he  will  gradually  thin  out  the  native  crofters 
(whom  a  patriotic  statesman  like  Baron  Stein  would  rather  have 
elevated  into  peasant  proprietors),  and  plant  a  few  big  farmers  at  a 
sufficient  distance  from  the  feeding  ground  of  his  antlered  favour- 
ites. This  is  the  fashion  in  which  a  materialistic  economy,  division 
of  labour,  and  aristocratic  selfishness,  may  combine  to  empty  a 
country  of  its  just  population,  carrying  out  logically  in  practice  the 
anti-social  principles  of  Macculloch  and  other  doctors  of  that  soulless 
science  which  measures  the  progress  of  society  by  the  mass  of  its 
material  products,  rather  than  by  the  quantity  and  quality  of  its 
human  producers. 

PRACTICAL  REMEDIES. 

Let  us  now  enquire  what  hope  there  may  be  of  recovery  from 


Annual  Assembly.  15 

those  errors,  and  what  legislative  measures  in  these  reforming  days 
may  help  xis  to  restore  the  social  equilibrium  of  our  agrarian  classes, 
which  has  been  so  one-sidedly  deranged.  First  of  all  the  spokesmen 
of  public  opinion  in  the  press  and  the  pulpit,  and  every  man  of  any 
social  influence  in  his  place  should  set  themselves  to  preach  on  the 
house-tops  'an  altogether  different  gospel  from  that  which  the  econo- 
mists have  made  fashionable — the  very  old  gospel  that  the  love  of 
money  is  the  root  of  all  evil,  and  that  nothing  but  evil  can  possibly 
spring  to  a  society  whose  grossly  material  prosperity  grows  luxuri- 
antly, it  may  be  for  a  season,  out  of  such  a  root  of  bitterness.  Some- 
thing may  be  done  in  this  way,  especially  with  a  class  of  people  in 
whom  the  selfishness  of  the  mere  merchant  may  be  considerately 
tempered  by  the  generosity  of  aristocratic  traditions.  But  the  mere 
preaching  of  this  gospel,  even  though  all  the  pulpits  should  ring 
with  it,  will,  I  am  afraid  with  the  great  body  of  those  to  whom  it 
is  addressed,  have  little  effect ;  for  the  moral  atmosphere  of  this 
country  has  been  so  corrupted  by  mercantile  maxims  that  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  move  one  man  out  of  twenty  to  do  the  smallest  thing  for 
the  benefit  of  his  fellow-creatures  unless  you  can  prove  to  him  that 
it  will  "  pay."  More  hopeful  it  may  be  to  attempt  interesting  the 
manufacturing  population  of  the  towns  in  the  welfare  of  their  rural 
neighbours  ;  showing  them  how  the  home  trade,  when  wisely  culti- 
vated, acts  with  a  more  steady  and  reliable  force  on  home  manufac- 
tures than  the  foreign  trade,  and  that  a  depopulated  country  and 
an  impoverished  peasantry  are  the  worst  possible  neighbours  that  an 
energetic  urban  population  can  possess.  An  occasional  sermon  on 
this  text,  with  a  few  practical  illustrations  from  European  experience 
in  various  countries  where  our  monstrous  system  of  land  monopoly 
does  not  prevail,  might  no  doubt  be  useful.  As  for  the  evil  done  to 
the  agricultural  population  by  free  trade,  there  seems  no  doubt  that 
the  danger  from  this  quarter,  not  inconsiderable  now,  is  likely  to 
become  greater.  But  however  wise  it  may  be  in  France  and  Ger- 
many and  other  countries  to  protect  their  native  manufactures 
against  the  overwhelming  activity  of  British  traders,  who,  for  their 
own  aggrandisement,  would  gladly  see  the  whole  countries  of  the 
world  remaining  for  ever  on  the  low  platform  which  belongs  to  the 
producers  of  raw  material ;  nevertheless,  it  is  in  vain  to  expect  that 
statesmen  in  this  country  will  ever  revert  to  the  policy  of  protec- 
tion, when  that  policy  means  the  raising  the  price  of  food  to  the 
seething  mass  of  the  people  in  our  large  towns,  whom  our  feverish 
manufacturing  activity  keeps  constantly  in  an  unhealthy  oscillation 
betwixt  the  two  extremes  of  plethora  and  want.  What  then  is  to 
be  done  ]  Plainly  we  must  buckle  ourselves — submitting  with  a 
wise  grace  to  a  permanent  lowering  of  rents  through  the  whole 


16  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

country — to  the  readjustment  of  our  land  laws,  which,  by  uni- 
versal admission,  are  in  some  respects  the  worst  possible,  and 
directly  calculated  to  keep  up  rather  than  to  break  down  the 
unnatural  antagonism  of  interests  between  the  lords  of  the  land 
and  the  occupiers  of  the  soil,  to  which  our  present  abnormal 
agrarian  condition  is  mainly  attributable.  Our  land  laws,  as  a 
matter  of  history,  were  made  by  the  aristocracy,  and  interpreted  by 
the  lawyers  for  the  aggrandisement  mainly  of  the  aristocracy,  and 
not  for  the  preservation  of  the  people.  This  was  natural,  and,  we 
may  say,  necessary ;  for  it  is  one  of  the  most  trite  maxims  of  politi- 
cal science,  that  any  class  of  persons,  entrusted  for  long  periods  of 
time  with  unlimited  and  irresponsible  power,  are  sure  to  abuse  it. 
Hence  the  gradual  diminution  of  small  proprietors,  the  absolute  non- 
existence  in  Great  Britain  of  one  of  the  best  classes  in  all  communi- 
ties, the  peasant  proprietors,  and  the  maintenance  of  law  of  heritable 
succession,  and  certain  forms  of  heritable  conveyance,  which  practi- 
cally tend  to  lock  up  the  land  in  the  hands  of  a  few,  and  to  remove 
it  in  a  great  measure  out  of  the  vital  circulation  of  the  community, 
and  thus  we  are  found  at  the  present  moment  standing  pretty  nearly 
in  the  same  position  that  Rome  stood  when  Pliny  wrote  the  famous 
sentence — Latifundia  perdidere  Italiam  ;  "  Our  big  estates  have 
ruined  Italy."  Of  course  no  man  will  suppose  that  I  wish  to 
philippize  against  all  large  estates  in  every  case  as  an  absolute  evil ; 
here  and  there  as  a  variety,  especially  when  the  proprietor  is  a 
public-spirited  man,  as  happens  not  seldom  in  this  country,  they 
may  do  good ;  but  in  the  main  they  are  not  to  be  commended,  as 
tending  neither  to  the  greatest  utilisation  of  the  soil  nor  to  the 
greatest  prosperity  of  the  people.  Every  resident  proprietor  is  a 
centre  of  provincial  culture,  and  a  nucleus  of  local  society  ;  and  in 
an  extensive  district  it  is  plainly  better  to  have  twenty  such  centres 
than  to  have  only  one.  We  must,  therefore,  look  upon  the  accumu- 
lation of  large  estates  in  the  hands  of  a  few  as  an  exceptional 
phenomenon,  which  a  wise  Legislature  will  think  it  a  plain  duty  to 
counteract  rather  than  to  encourage ;  and  this  can  easily  be  done 
when  the  duty  is  once  clearly  acknowledged,  by  modifying  the  law 
of  succession,  by  rendering  illegal  all  testamentary  dispositions  of 
land  under  whatever  guise  to  persons  yet  living,  by  declaring  war, 
root  and  branch,  against  the  entail  system ;  by  removing  without 
mercy  the  artificial  hindrances  which  our  S}rstein  of  conveyancing 
lays  on  the  transfer  of  landed  property,  by  adjusting  our  laws  of 
land  tenure,  so  as  to  make  them  always  lean  with  a  kindly  partiality 
to  the  weaker  rather  than  to  the  stronger  party  in  the  contract ;  by 
setting  a  strict  limit  to  the  sporting  propensities  of  idle  gentleman- 
ship  in  every  case  when  it  tends  to  encroach  on  the  industrial  use 


Annual  Assembly.  17 

of  the  soil,  by  imposing  a  swinging  tax  on  all  absentee  proprietors,  as 
persons  who,  while  they  drain  the  country  of  its  money,  make  no 
social  return  to  the  district  from  which  they  derive  their  social 
importance,  and  finally,  if  it  should  be  necessary,  by  establish- 
ing a  national  fund  •  for  assisting  small  tenants  and  crofters  in 
favourable  situations  to  buy  up  their  tenant  right  and  constitute 
themselves  into  peasant  proprietors  with  absolute  ownership. 
This  last  proposal  will,  of  course,  be  laughed  at  by  a  large  class  of 
persons  in.  this  country,  who  think  everything  unreasonable  and 
impossible  that  is  contrary  to  their  own  traditions,  prejudices,  and 
consuetudes ;  but  men  who  have  little  foresight  and  no  thinking  are 
precisely  those  who,  when  the  hour  and  the  need  comes,  are  found 
plunging  wholesale  into  the  most  violent  changes.  I  said  that  the 
reversal  of  our  hereditary  land  policy  in  this  country  implied  in 
such  changes  would  be  as  easy  in  practice  as  it  is  obvious  in  theory, 
if  only  there  was  an  insight  and  a  will ;  but  as  matters  stand,  I 
much  fear  the  insight  is  confined  to  a  few,  and  the  will  to  oppose  all 
social  moves  in  this  direction  is  for  the  present  at  least  much 
stronger  than  the  will  to  make  them.  Nevertheless  in  the  natural 
course  of  things,  if  Britain  is  not  to  be  ruined,  these  changes  must 
come  ;  and  it  were  the  wisdom  of  our  aristocracy,  than  whom  as  a 
whole  a  more  respectable  body  does  not  exist  in  Europe,  to  take  the 
lead  in  a  series  of  well  calculated  reforms  tending  to  give  more  in- 
dependence and  manhood  to  the  cultivators  of  the  soil,  rather  than 
by  opposing  them  to  fan  the  flame  of  a  great  agrarian  revolution, 
which  may  break  out  volcanically  and  overwhelm  them  perhaps  at 
no  distant  date. 

The  Professor  resumed  his  seat  amid  loud  cheers. 

The  Highland  fling  having  been  danced  by  the  four  Highlanders 
above-named, 

Eev.  Alex.  Cameron,  Free  Church,  Brodick,  Arran,  addressed 
the  meeting.  He  was  obliged  to  the  Society,  he  said,  for  asking 
him  to  attend  this  meeting,  and  for  the  opportunity  of  expressing 
his  hearty  sympathy  with  them  in  their  objects.  It  was  gratifying 
to  find  that  the  interest  in  Celtic  studies  and  Celtic  objects  generally 
was  not  diminishing,  but,  on  the  contrary,  increasing  in  the  High- 
land capital.  Celtic  enthusiasm,  however,  like  every  other  kind  of 
force,  in  order  to  be  productive  of  right  results,  must  be  concen- 
trated on  definite  and  attainable  objects.  For  example,  it  might  be 
impossible  to  keep  (iaelic  permanently  alive  among  them  as  a  spoken 
language,  but  that  was  no  reason  why  it  should  not  be  more  ear- 
nestly studied  by  Highlanders  than  it  has  ever  been,  nor  was  it  any 
reason  why  its  valuable  literary  remains  should  be  allowed  to  be 
buried  in  inaccessible  MSS.,  or  to  fade  away  from  the  memories 

2 


18  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

of  the  people  without  any  record  of  it  being  preserved.  If  he  had 
to  do  with  the  starting  of  another  periodical — a  quarterly  one — to  be 
devoted  to  Celtic  subjects,  it  was  not  because  those  already  in 
existence  were  not  doing  their  work  well,  but  because  he  thought 
there  was  work  to  be  done  which  had  not  yet  been  attempted  by 
any  other  in  this  country,  and  could  not  at  present  be  done  by  a 
weekly  newspaper  or  by  a  monthly  periodical,  if  it  expects  to  have 
such  a  circulation  as  will  render  it  self-supporting.  The  periodical 
to  which  he  referred,  and  of  which  more  than  half  of  the  first  num- 
ber was  now  in  type,  was  to  be  devoted,  almost  exclusively,  to  sub- 
jects connected  with  the  language,  literature,  and  archaeology  of  the 
Highlands.  The  Celtic  Review,  from  its  nature  and  aims,  was  ex- 
cluded from  appealing  for  support  to  the  general  public.  It  would, 
therefore,  appeal  to  those  who  take  a  special  interest  in  the  promo- 
tion of  Celtic  study,  and  in  the  preservation  of  our  Gaelic  literature. 
This  class  of  readers,  although  necessarily  limited,  was  sufficiently 
numerous  to  make  this  new  venture,  if  they  think  proper,  a  com- 
plete success.  In  conclusion,  he  had  the  greatest  pleasure  in  pro- 
posing a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  their  patriotic  chief,  who  had  af- 
forded them  all  such  gratification  by  presiding  over  them  this  even- 
ing. Long  life  and  prosperity  to  him  in  his  noble  work  of  cultivat- 
ing the  land,  and  of  benefiting  the  people  who  live  upon  it.  (Ap- 
plause.) 

The  Chief  returned  his  obligations,  and  proposed  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  performers.  He  hoped  that  the  example  set  by  the 
young  ladies  in  singing  Gaelic  songs  would  be  followed  by  all 
others  in  the  Highlands.  (Cheers.) 

The  concluding  part-song,  "  Eirich  agus  tiugainn,  0,"  having 
been  sung,  the  proceedings  terminated. 

The  ladies  and  gentlemen  forming  the  part  singers  were : — 
Miss  Young,  Huntly  Street ;  Miss  Macdonald,  Armadale  Cottage, 
Greig  Street ;  Miss  Macdonald,  Denny  Street ;  Miss  Forbes,  Lotland 
Place  ;  Miss  Chisholm,  George  Street ;  Miss  Hunter,  Inglis  Street ; 
and  Miss  Grant,  Drummond ;  Mr.  J.  A.  Robertson,  Newhall,  Ross- 
shire  ;  Mr.  M.  Fraser,  Church  Street ;  and  Mr.  Holms,  Crown 
Street.  Miss  Chisholm,  Namur  Cottage,  Greig  Street,  proved  a 
most  efficient  accompanist  on  the  pianoforte.  The  whole  arrange- 
ments for  the  Assembly  were  carried  out  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Society — Mr.  William  Mackenzie. 

The  following  was  the  programme  : — 

PART  I. 

Gaelic  Song — "  Gabhaidh  sinn  an  Rathad  mor" — Party. 
Address— The  Chief. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  19 

Song — "  Ho  ro  cha  bhi  ga  d'  chaoidh  ni's  ino" — Mr.  D.  Graham. 

Scotch  Song — "  Macgregor's  Gathering" — Mr.  J.  A.  Kobertson. 

Dance — u  Highland  Fling" — Oganaich  Ghaidhealach. 

Gaelic  Song  (with  translation) — "  Mairi  Laghach" — Miss  Young, 

Gaelic  Song — "  Muile  nam  Mor-bheann" — Mr.  J.  A.  Robertson. 

Gaelic  Address — Kev.  A.  Macgregor. 

Gaelic  Song — "  Gu  ma  slan  a  chi  mi" — Party. 

Interval  of  Ten  Minutes — Bagpipe  Music 

PART  II. 

Gaelic  Song — "  Air  faillirin,  illirin,  uillirin,  0" — Party. 

Scotch  Song — "  Somebody" — Miss  J.  Macdonald. 

Gaelic  Song — "  Slangu'n  till  na  Gaidheil  Ghasda" — Mr.  D.  Graham. 

Address— Professor  Blackie. 

Dance — "  Reel  of  Tulloch" — Oganaich  Ghaidhealach. 

Gaelic  Song — "  'S  toigh  learn  a'  Ghaidhealtachd  " — Mr.  Kobertson. 

Vote  of  Thanks  to  the  Chief — Rev.  Alex.  Cameron,  Brodick. 

Concluding  Song — u  Eirich  agus  tiugainn,  0  " — Party. 

19iH  NOVEMBER,  1879. 

Some  routine  business  having  been  transacted  at  this  meeting,  the 
secretary,  Mr.  William  Mackenzie,  read  the  following  paper,  en- 
titled— 

LEAVES  FROM  MY  CELTIC  PORTFOLIO. 
V. 

This  is  the  fifth  occasion,  he  said,  on  which  I  appear  before  you 
with  a  series  of  "  Leaves"  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  Two  series 
of  these  "  Leaves"  are  published  in  Vol.  VII.  of  the  Society's  Trans- 
actions, and  other  two  in  Vol.  VIII. 

In  now  beginning  the  fifth  series,  I  do  not  think  it  necessary  to 
enter  into  any  general  remarks  regarding  it.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
with  regard  to  the  selections  which  I  am  now  about  to  lay  before 
you,  I  will  follow  the  plan  adopted  by  me  in  the  earlier  series. 

I  will  begin  by  quoting  a  song  in  honour  of  our  evergreen  ex- 
chief,  Cluny  Macpherson,  composed  by  our  first  bard,  Mr.  Angus 
Macdonald.  So  far  as  I  am  aware  it  has  not  been  published  any- 
where hitherto.  The  old  bard  had  the  greatest  admiration  for  the 
venerable  chief  of  the  Macphersons,  and  often  have  I  heard  him  sing 


20  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

these  verses  to  the  air  of  "  Blue  Bonnets  over  the  Border,"  with  the 
utmost  enthusiasm  :  — 


TIQHEARNA    CHLUAINIDH. 

Thoir  soraidh  le  beannachd  do  Bhaideanach  thairis, 

Do'n  cheann-fheadhna  thug  barrachd  an  caithreara  na  h-uailse, 

An  snairceas,  'an  glanaid,  cha  chualas  cho  tairis, 

Gach  duil  a  sior  aithris  mu  mhaith  Thighearna  Chluainidh 

Chorus — Seinn,  seinn,  seinn  gu  caithreamach  ; 
Fonn,  fonn,  gu  h-aighearach  buaghar  ; 
Leum,  leum,  leum  gu  farumach, 
Sgeula  na  h-ealaidh  mu'n  fhlath,  Tighearna  Chluainidh. 

0  cuiream  an  t-oran  gu  dreachmhor  an  ordugli 
Do'n  Ghaidheal  a's  sonruicht',  tha  beo,  thar  na  chualas, 
Biodh  na  buidealan  comhlath,  ga  'n  taomadh  gun  soradh, 
Cha  'n  fhagar  leinn  beo  'm  fear  nach  ol  Tighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Tha  subhailcean  aiilidh  dol  thairis  air  chach  ann, 
Le  modhalachd  nadair  gun  ardan  ui  suarach, 
Uasal,  iriosal,  baigheil,  dheanadh  trocair  air  namhaid — 
Cha  'n  innsinn  gu  brath  trian  do  stath  Tighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Tha  beannachdan  bhochdan  'tighinn  dluth  mar  chloich  shneachd  air 
'Nuair  tha  donionn  air  leachdan  'us  bacan  Dhruimuachdar ; 
Cha  'n  ioghnadh  le  chleachdadh,  si  'n  eiricheas  is  reachd  dlia, 
'Si  chomhnuidh  gun  seachnadh,  an  teach  Thighearna  Chluainidh, 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Na  'm  maoigheadh  an  namhaid  air  ceannas  nan  Ghaidheal, 
Bhiodh  glaodh  na  crois-taraidh,  mar  thairneanach  suas  ann  ; 
Le  niilltean  gun  aireamh  fo  bhreacanan  's  sgarlaid, 
Do  ghaisgich  ro  laidir  ri  sail  Thighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Le'n  claidh'ean  chinn  Ilich,  's  an  cuilbhearan  cinnteach, 
'Cur  naimhdean  na  'n  sineadh  le  dillseachd  am  bualaidh, 
Ga'n  reubadh  na'm  mirean,  mar  leomhainn  ro  mhillteach, 
Measg  bheathach  na  frith  ann  an  strith  Thighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  21 

Clann-a'-Chatain  na'n  ceudau  o  bhailtean  Sliratheire, 
Mar  chait  agus  dreun  orr'  le  teum  dol  '^an  tuasaid ; 
Air  luchd  'fhuath  bhiodh  an-eibhinn,  le  'n  dubhannan  geura, 
'Cur  miltean  gu  eug  dhiubh  an  streup  Thighearna  Chluainidb. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Slioclid  Mhuiricb,  iia  gaisgicli,  theid  gun  soradh  'sa  cliasgairt, 
Cha  pbillt'  air  an  ais  iad,  chion  tapachd  no  cruadal : 
'S  an  ceannard  bhi  faisg  orr',  'toirt  niisneach  'us  neart  dhoibh, 
Chluinnte  farum  treun  spealtaidh,  'an  taic  Thighearna  Chluamidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Thig  brataich'  Chloiuu  Domhnuill,  mar  bhras  leomhainn  oga  ; 
'Shiubhladh  gu  deonach,  'san  ordugh  bu  dual  doibh 
'Nuair  bhuaileadh  iad  comhstri,  bhiodh  fuil  air  a  dortadh, 
'S  iad  a  sheasadh  a  chomhraig  'an  coir  Thighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Lochiall  a's  Cloiun  Chamshroin  Ian  sgeadaicht'  le  arniachd 
Bhiodh  buaidh  aca  dearbhta,  le  ana-meinn  gun  uabairt ; 
Cha  chualas  an  garbh-chath,  bu  bhuaireanta  gargachd — 
lad  a'  tionail  le  anabharr  ri  gairm  Thighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

'S  leis  na  Caimbeulaich  ghleusta,  thig  an  Diuchd  le  na  ceudan, 
Bidh  an  tore  anns  na  speuran  cuir  speiricl  na'n  gluasad ; 
Sliochd  Dhiarmaid  nan  geur  laim,  treas  ghaisgeach  na  Feinne, 
Gach  sonn  dhiubh  'toirt  eisdeachd  do  eubh  Thighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Macleoid  le  fir  mheara,  's  rogha  ceol  ae'  ga'u  tiouail, 
Piob  mhor  ac'  's  Mac  Cruimean  'toirt  mine  agus  fuaim  aisd, 
C'aite  am  biodh  fine  dha'ni  bu  dana  bhi  'sireadh 
Dhol  an  dail  na  fir  iomaict,  toirt  sioth  Thighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

Mac  Choinnich  le  'threuii  fhir,  mar  bheithir  nan  speuran  ; 
Gu  bras-bhuilleach,  beumach,  a'  teumadh  na'n  uamhas  ; 
Fuil  naimhdeau  ro  dheisneach  na  stucan  air  feur  ac' — 
Mo  chion  na  suiim  ghleust  a  ta  'n  streup  Thighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

C'aite  'm  biodh  brataicliean  Ghaidhealaibh  gaiageil, 
0  thuinn  an  Atlantic  gu  cladaichean  Shuaine, 
Nach  sgaoilto  le  tapachd  an  eirig  an  lasgair, 
'Sa  shiubhladh  gun  fhaiteachd  gu  taic  Thighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 


22  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Bidh  durachdan  chairdean  'na  miltean  gu  brath  dha, 
'S  thig  boannachd  o'n  Ard  Righ  a's  fearr  na  na  luaidh  mi ; 
Bheir  teach  dairean  aghair,  gu  oighreachd  a's  fearr  e, 
'S  bidh  'chaoidh  cuirahne  ghraidh  air  an  t-Sar  Tighearna  Chluainidh. 
Seinn,  seinn,  &c. 

My  next  piece  will  be  a  St.  Kilda  Lilt,  Luinneag  lortach.  It  is 
said  to  be  the  composition  of  a  St.  Kilda  woman  to  a  gentleman  who 
had  visited  the  lonely  isle.  This  gentleman,  it  would  appear,  was 
one  of  the  Campbells  of  Islay  : — 

Cha  'n  ioghnadh  mise  'bhi  uallach, 
0  na  thainig  an  duin'  uasal, 
Tha  do  ribeanan  mu'n  cuairt  domh 
'S  cumaidh  iad  mo  ghruag  air  doigh 

Mo  ghaol  oigear  a'  chul  duinn, 
Air  'n  do  ghabh  mi  loinn  's  mi  og ; 
Dhurichdinn  duit  pog  'san  anmoch, 
Ged  robh  each  ga  sheanchas  oirn. 

'S  gu'n  robh  Iain  Mac-Gill-Iosa, 
Anns  an  fhoghar  rium  a'  fidreadh, 
Ach  o'n  thainig  an  t-Iarl  Ileach, 
Cha  'n  eisd  mi  ri  'bhriodail  beoil. 
Mo  ghaol,  &c. 

Sguiridh  mi  'shugradh  nan  gillean, 
Cha  'n  fhuiling  mi  rium  am  mireadh  ; 
O'n  tha  'n  Caimbeulach  ga  m'  shireadh, 
Cha  teid  mi  tuilleadh  'nan  coir. 
Mo  ghaol,  &c. 

Ged  a  gheibhinn  fein  an  taillear, 
'S  na  choisinn  e  riamh  le  'shnathaid, 
'S  mor  gu'm  b'  annsa  'bhi  air  airidh, 
'Bleodhan  bha  do  Choinneach  og. 
Mo  ghaol,  &c. 

Ged  a  gheibhinn  a  chuid  uile 
Cha  bhiodh  ann  ach  ni  gun  bhuinuig, 
B'  annsa  giomanach  a'  ghunna 
'Bheireadh  fuil  air  damh  ua  croic'. 
Mo  ghaol,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio. 

Ach  beul  sios  air  luclid  na  tarchluais, 
'S  luchd  nam  breug  cha'n  iad  a's  fhasa  ; 
'S  mi  gu'n  suibhladh  fada  's  farsuing 
Airson  canntannas  do  bheoil. 
Mo  ghaol,  &c. 

Ach.  na  'm  bithinnsa  cho  finealt, 
'S  le  ite  geoidh  gu'n  deanainn  sgriobhadh, 
Chuirinn  litrichean  do  dh-Ile, 
Nach  i  'n  fhirinn  thog  iad  oirii. 
Mo  ghaol,  &c. 

Mo  cheisd  iasgair  na  h-abhunu, 
Cha  trie  a  thainig  e  falamh  ; 
'S  cha  bu  mhios'  thu  'm  beinn  a'  cheathaich, 
A'  toirt  fal'  air  fear  nan  cr6c. 
Mo  ghaol,  &c. 

My  next  song  is  of  a  different  character.  It  is  one  of  those 
weird  pathetic  pieces  which  one  now  and  again  hears  in  fragments 
in  different  parts  of  the  Highlands.  Seemingly  it  is  very  old. 
Tradition  states  that  the  author  of  it  was  a  woman  who  laid  down 
her  infant  suckling  in  a  sequestered  spot,  while  she  herself  sauntered 
about  to  gather  wild  berries.  On  her  return,  the  child  was  not  to 
be  found,  the  fairies  having  gone  off  with  it !  and  the  song 
describes  her  wandering  by  hill  and  dale,  finding  the  footprints  of 
different  animals,  but  no  trace  of  her  fondling.  It  is,  indeed,  what 
the  person  from  whom  I  wrote  it  down  called  a  Twireadh  Tiamhaidli, 
or  Plaintive  Lament  : — 

Refrain — Och  och  nan  och,  martha  mi-fein, 
Mar  tha  mi-fein,  mar  tha  mi-fein  • 
Och,  och  nan  och,  mar  tha  mi-fein ; 
'S  mo  shuil  an  deigh  mo  chuthrachain. 

Mo  chiithrachan  'sa  chul  ri  lar, 

A  chill  ri  lar,  a  chul  ri  lar ; 

Mo  chiithrachan  's  a  chul  ri  lar — 

'S  mo  shuil  an  deigh  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och,  och,  &c. 

Ocli  och  nan  och,  's  mo  chiochan  Ian, 
Mo  chiochan  Ian,  mo  chiochan  Ian ; 
Och  och  nan  och,  's  mo  chiochan  Ian 
'S  mo  shuil  an  deigh  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 


24  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  an  fhe"idh  'sa'  bheinn, 
An  fheidh  'sa'  bheinn,  an  fheidh  'sa'  bheinn  ; 
Fhuair  mi  lorg  an  fheidh  'sa'  bheinn — 
'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chiithvachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  an  laoigh  bhric  dheirg, 
An  laoigh  bhric  dheirg,  an  laoigh  bhric  dheirg  ; 
Fhuair  mi  lorg  an  laoigh  bhric  dheirg, 
'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  a'  bhric  fo  bhruaich, 

A'  bhric  fo  bhruaich,  a'  bhric  fo  bhruaich  ; 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  a'  bhric  fo  bhruaich, 

'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  an  dobhrain  duinn, 
An  dobhrain  duinn,  an  dobhrain  duinn  ; 
Gu'n  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  an  dobhrain  duinn, 
'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  na  ba  le  'laogh 
Na  ba  le  'laogh,  na  ba  le  'laogh  ; 
Gu'n  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  na  ba  le  'laogh, 
'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  na  caora  le  'h-uan, 
Na  caora  le  'h-uan,  na  caora  le  'h-uan, 
Fhuair  mi  lorg  na  caora  le  'h-uan, 

'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  na  goidhre  le  'meann, 

Na  goidhre  le  'meann,  na  goidhre  le  'meann ; 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  na  goidhre  le  'meann, 

'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  an  t-siounaich  le  'al, 

An  t-sionnaich  le  'al,  an  t-sionnaich  le  'al ; 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  an  t-sionnaich  le  'al, 

'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  Icrg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  25 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  na  h-eal'  air  an  t-snamh 
Na  h-eal'  air  an  t-snamh,  na  h-eal'  air  an  t-snamh 
Fhuair  mi  lorg  na  h-eal'  air  an  t-snamh 
'S  cha  d*  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Fhuair  mi  lorg  a'  cheo  'sa'  bheinn, 
A'  cheo  'sa'  bheinn,  a'  che6  'sa'  bheinn  ; 
'S  ged  fhuair  mi  lorg  a'  cheo  'sa'  bheinn 
Cha  d'fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain  ! 
Och  och,  &c. 

Shiubhail  mi  'n  gleann  bho  cheann  gu  ceann, 

Bho  cheann  gu  ceann,  bho  cheann  gu  ceann  ; 

Shiubhail  mi  'n  gleann  bho  cheann  gu  ceann, 

'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 

Och,  och,  &c. 

Shiubhail  mi  'm  fraoch  bho  thaobh  gu  taobh, 
Bho  thaobh  gu  taobh,  bho  thaobh  gu  taobh  ; 
Shiubhail  mi  'm  fraoch  bho  thaobh  gu  taobh 
'S  cha  d'  fhuair  mi  lorg  mo  chuthrachain. 
Och  och,  &c. 

Dh'  fhag  mi  'n  so  'na  shineadh  e, 
'Na  shineadh  e,  'na  shineadh  e  ; 
Gu'n  d'  fhag  mi  'n  so  na  shineadh  e 

'N  uair  dh'  fhalbh  mi  bhuain  nam  braoileagan  ! 

Och  och  nan  och,  mar  tha  mi  fein^ 
Mar  tha  mi  fein,  mar  tha  mi  fein  ; 
Och  och  nan  och,  mar  tha  mi  fein 

'S  mo  shiiil  an  deigh  mo  chuthrachain. 


Here  are  the  words  of  a  Failte  or  Salute — that  of  the  Clan 
Mackenzie — which  is  said  to  have  been  composed  by  the  Seaforth 
Family  piper  early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  in  honour  of  the  then 
chief,  Uilleam  Dubh  : — 

Slan  gu'm  pill  fear  'chinn-duibh, 
Slun  gu'n  till  fear  'chinn-duibh, 
Slan  gu'm  pill  fear  'chinn-duibh, 
Slan  gu'n  till  Uilleachan. 


26  Gaelic  Sociely  of  Inverness. 

Slan  gu'n  tig,  slan  gu'n  ruig, 
Slan  gu'n  tig  Uilleachan, 
'S  toigh  learn  fein  fear  'chinn-duibh 
'S  toigh  learn  fein  Uilleachan. 

Tha  na  ceudan  a  muigh, 
'S  tha  na  ceudan  a  staigli, 
'S  tha  na  ceudan  a  muigh, 
'S  toigh  learn  fein  Uilleachan. 

Slan  gu'n  dith,  slan  gu  sior, 
Slan  gu'n  dith  Uilleachan, 
'S  toigh  learn  fein  fear  mo  chridh', 
'S  toigh  learn  chaoidh  Uilleachan. 

Slan  gu'n  till  fear  'chinn-duibh, 
Slan  gu'm  pill  Uillsachan, 
Slan  gu'n  tig,  slan  gu'n  ruig 
Slan  gu'ii  tig  Uilleachan. 

'S  e  mo  run  fear  a'  chinn-duibh, 
'S  e  mo  run  Uilleachan, 
'S  mor  a'  chiiirt  'bhi  ort  dluth, 
Fhir  mo  ruin,  Uilleachan. 

'S  gaisgeach  treun,  Uilleachan, 
Claidheamh  geur  'n  laimh  'n  fhir-fheiH, 
'S  na  seoid  ag  eigheach  gu  leir, 
Is  trom  beuman  Uilleachan. 


The  Highland  muse  is  often  plaintive,  and  Marlh-rainn  form  a 
large  proportion  of  our  poetical  literature.  The  following  specimen, 
which  I  am  informed  is  the  composition  of  a  certain  Duncan  Mac- 
pherson,  who  was  brought  up  in  Eahoy,  is  well  worthy  of  a  page 
among  these  "Leaves."  The  subject  of  it  is  the  late  l)r.  Mac- 
Lachlan,  of  Eahoy,  Morven,  of  poetic  memory  : — 

Fhuair  mi  naigheachd  do  bhais, 

'S  iomadh  aon  a  bha  craiteach  ga  luaidh, 
Sar  cheann-feadhna  nan  Gaidheal 

An  diugh  bhi  ga  charadh  's  an  uaigh ; 
Bu  tu  lighich'  na  slainte 

'Dheanadh  cobhair  air  each  a  bhiodh  truagh — 
Och  mo  sgaradh  's  mo  chradh-lot, 

Gu'n  d'  rinn  thu  ar  fagail  cho  luath. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  27 

'Nuair  thainig  a  chrioch  ort 

'S  iomadh  aon  a  bha  cianail  gu  leoir, 
'S  m6r  mulad  do  chairdean, 

Ged  a's  beag  tha  's  an  aite  dhiubh  be6  ; 
Bha  do  phiuthar  shean  aosda, 

Gun  fhurtachd  no  faochadli  ga  Ie6n, 
'Bualadh  bhasan  's  a'  caoineadh, 

'S  chuir  an  tuireadh  ud  gaoir  ann  am  fheoil ! 

'S  ann  air  Ceithe  Thobair-mhuire, 

A  bha  am  bron  's  a  chuis-mhulaid  nacli  b'fhaoin 
Mar  ghaoir  chorp  anns  an  araich. 

Sluagh  ag  osnaich  's  an  lamh  air  an  taobh, 
Chruinnich  maithean  an  aite, 

A  chuir  onair  as  aird  air  an  laoch ; 
'S  ghleidh  iad  suil  air  a"  bhata, 

'Dol  gu  Fionn-airidh  sabhailt  triomh  'n  chaol. 

'S  anns  a  'Chnoc  chaidh  do  charadh, 

'Sa  Chill-mhoir  measg  do  chairdean  's  do  sheors, 
Taobh  Chaol-mhuil'  aig  Loch-aluinn, 

Far  an  trie  chuir  thu  failt  oirnn  beo  ; 
Tha  thu  ad  chliu  dh-Earra-ghaidheal, 

'S  do'n  duthaich  a  dh'  araich  thu  6g, 
'S  fhad  's  a  bhruidhneas  sinn  Gailig, 

Cumar  cuimhn'  air  do  bhardachd  le  ce61. 

'S  ann  so  Mhorairne  ghleannach 

'Fhuair  thu  d'  arach  ad  leanabh  's  tu  6g, 
'An  Eahuaidhe  nan  liosan 

Far  an  cinneadh  na  miosan  's  am  p6r  ; 
'K  gleannan  neoineanach.  sgiamhach 

'S  uaine  lurach  do  lianagan  fe6ir. 
'S  do  chraobhan  aosda  fo  iath-shlat, 

'S  na  h-eoin  a'  gairsinn  ri  grein  aim  am  me6ir. 

'S  iomadh  te  a  thug  gaol  duit, 

'S  cha  b'ann  miodalach  faoin  a  bha'n  gradh 
Rinn  thu  an  cridheachan  aomadh, 

'S  iad  air  mhireadh  gu  d'  fhaotainn  air  laimh 
Sgaoil  na  lasraichean  gaoil  ud, 

Mar  fhalaisg  ri  fraoch  narn.  beann  ard, 
O'n  's  aim  diamhain  bha'n  saothair, 

Chunnt  iad  aighear  an  t-saoghail  na  chradh. 


28  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness, 

'N  am  suidhe  'stigh  thairne, 

'N  uair  a  chraiunicheadh  Gaidheil  mu'n  bhord, 
Cur  m'an  cuart  na  deoch  slainte, 

'S  tu  dheanadh  a  paigheadh  'sa  h-61 ; 
'S  sunntach  sheinneadh  tu  duanag, 

Le  botal  a's  cuach  ann  ad  dhorn, 
'N  uair  bhiodh  bodaich  gun  sugradh, 

'San  cridhe  ga  mhuchaclh  le  bron. 

'S  na'n  robh  geire  gu  in'  dhiirachd, 

'S  gu'm  bu  leir  dhomh  gach  cuis  mar  bu  choir, 
Dh'  innsinn  earran  gad'  chliu  'dhaibh, 

Bbo'n  a  b'aithne  dhomh  thii  anns  gach  d6igh 
Grim  lurach  nam  fluran, 

Tha  cliu  ort  ad  dhuthaich  o  t-6ig — 
Gniiis  aillidh  an  f  hiurain, 

'S  iomadh  te'  leis  'in  bu  chliuiteach  do  phog. 

Thuit  a  chraobh  bu  mhaith  toradh, 

Sar  laoch  thu  gun  choimcas  measg  chiad, 
'S  iomadh  bantighearna  bhoidheach, 

Bheireadh  milltean  do'n  6r  dhuit  le  riadh, 
Cridhe  leirsinneach  fiosrach, 

Cha  bi  gheire  gun  tuigse  do  mhiann  ; 
']S"  fhuil  bha  an  cuislean  do  shinnsir, 

'S  na  gruaidhean  bu  ghris-dhcirge  fiamh. 

Ged  is  dana  dhomh  labhairt, 

Mu  mhorachd  is  flaitheas  an  righ 
Tha  mi  'n  dochas  le  aighear. 

Nach  robh  abhuinn  lordain  dhuit  cli, 
Gun  do  threoraich  na  faidhean, 

Gu  geata  nan  gras  thu  air  tlr  ; 
Le  deich  mile  an  aireamh, 

'S  iad  a'  seinn  air  a  ghradh  tha  gun  clnich. 


By  way  of  variety,  I  will  next  give  you  a  Duan  Callulnn.  I 
need  not  explain  to  an  assembly  of  Highlanders  what  a  Duan 
Calluinn  is,  but  the  following  specimen  is  unique.  It  differs 
materially  from  the  ordinary  and  sometimes  meaningless  rhymes 
which,  in  our  younger  days,  we  were  wont  to  chant  outside  our 
neighbours'  houses  at  Christmas  and  New  Year  time  :  it  is 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  29 

really  a  sort  of  benediction,  referring  specially  to  the  birth  of  the 
Saviour : — 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 
Ho  High !  Ho  Eigh  !  Beannaicht'  e  thainig  'san  am. 

Ho  Righ  !  Ho  High  ! 
Beannaich  an  tigh,  's  na  bheil  ann, 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  ! 
Eadar  chuaill,  a's  chlach,  a's  chrann, 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  ! 

Thugadh  do  I)hia  e  eader  bhrat  is  aodach, 
81ainte  dhaoine  gu  robli  ann. 
Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh ! 
Gu  mo  buan  mu'n  tulach  sibh, 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  ! 
Gu  mo  slan  mu'n  teallaich  sibh, 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh ! 
Gu  mo  lionmhor  cabar  'sail  fhardaich, 
Is  daoirie  slana  a'  tamh  ann. 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 
Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  ! 
Nochd  Oidhche  na  Nollaige  Moire, 
Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Righ  !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 
Eugadh  Mac  na  h-Oighe  Muire. 
Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 
Eainig  a  bhonnan  an  lar, 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 
Shoillsich  Grian  nam  beann  ard, 
Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 
Shoillsich  fearann,  shoillsich  fonn, 
Chualas  am  fonn  air  an  truigh 
Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  !  Beannaicht'  e,  Beannaicht'  e  ! 

Ho  Eigh  !  Ho  Eigh  ! 

Beannaicht'  mo  Eigh,  gun  toiseach,  gun  chrich  ! 
Gu  sumhainn,  gu  sior,  gach  linn  gu  brath  ! 

The  following  song  is  in  praise  of  one  of  the  Mackenzies  of 
Applecross.  The  word  picture  of  a  pastoral  scene  in  the  Highlands 
contained  in  the  first  few  stanzas  is  well  worthy  of  the  Highland 
muse  : — 

An  diugh  's  mi  gluasad 
Mu'n  cuairt  's  na  glasraichean, 


30  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'S  a'  ghrian  'cur  fuadach 
Fo  ghruaim  na  camlianaich, 

Bha  cuach,  a's  smeorach, 
'S  an  ro-choill  bhadanaich, 

'Cur  failt  le  'n  orain 
Air  16  bhiodh  taitneach  loam. 

A  thabhairt  eisdeachd 
Mo  cheum  ghrad  lasaich  mi, 

'S  fo  bhuaidh  na  seiste 
B'  fhior  eibhinn  m'  fhairoachduinn  ; 

'S  bha  fead  a's  eighe 
Ei  sproidh  's  an  langanaich, 

A'  f albh  o  'n  b^uaile,          K  / 
Thoirt  cuairt  na  madainne. 

Bha  feur  'us  flurain 
Le  driichd  ga'n  caisrigeadh, 

'S  bu  mhaiseach  iirail, 
Cubhraidh.  fallain  iad, 

'S  na  seillein  chaonntach, 
Gu  saor  'toirt  meala  dhiubh, 

'S  a'  falbh  gu  lodail 
Gu  stoir  an  tallachan* 

Gu'n  dhiuc  fear  e61ais 
A  chomhradh  tacan  rium, 

'S  rinn  faoilt  a  ghnuise 
Deagh  run  a  thaisbeanadh, 

'S  b'  e  bridh  a  sgeula 
A  reir  mar  dh'  fharraid  mi — 

Gu'n  tainig  mor-fhlath 
Na  Com'raich  laganaich. 

Do  bheatha  '11  tir  so, 
Fhir  chinntich,  charthannaich, 

Tha  foinnidh,  dlreach, 
Deas,  fior-ghlan,  aimisgeil, 

Tha  seirc  a's  suairceas, 
0  dhualchas  d'  aithrichean, 

A  ghnath  ga  d'  leanmhuinn, 
'S  tu  meanmnach,  macanta. 

Bi'dh  tional  chairdean, 
Gu  d'  aros  thacaraich, 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  31 

'S  gur  lionmhor  iirmunn 
'Tha  tumh  fo  d'  fhasgadh  ann  ; 

Tha  aoidh,  a's  fialachd, 
Gach  ial  ga'm  mealtuinn  ac', 

Oir  's  beag  tha  dholum 
'S  a'  chr5ig  tha  sgapadh  orr'. 

La-breith  an  oighre 
Bi'dh  oidhch'  aig  ceatharnaich, 

'JST  ad  thalla  rioghail, 
'M  bi  piob  gu  farumacli, 

Bidh  gillean  6g',  agus 
Oigheaii  basdalach, 

A'  ceuraadh  urlair, 
Gu  surdail,  aigeannach. 

Bi'dh  cuilm  'an  ordugh, 
A's  doigh  am  pailteas  ann. 

Bi'dh  61,  bi'dh  6rain, 
A's  moran  aiteis  ann, 

Bi'dh  fir  gu  foirmeil 
Ei  toirm  a'  lachanaich, 

'S  am  bannal  nionag 
Ei  stri  a'  leannanachd. 

Thu  fein,  's  do  cheile, 
Gur  eibhinn  cuideachd  sibh, 

Gu  geanail,  gaolach, 
Glic,  faoilteach,  furanach, 

'S  ur  meanglain  oirdhearc, 
Tha  boidheach,  cumachdail, 

'S  'n  an  taitneas  sula, 
'Cur  sunnd  fo  'n  chuideachda. 

A'  siubhal  sl&bhe, 
Gur  eutrom,  iullagach. 

An  deigh  an  fhcidh  thu, 
'S  'n  a  leum  gu  'n  tuit  e  leat, 

Le  d'  ghunna  cinnteach, 
Bi  'dh  'n  fhrith  gle  fhuileachdach, 

'S  bi'dh  damh  na  croice 
Gun  de6  le  d'  chuspaireachd. 

Thug  so  gu  in'  chuimhne 
Na  suinn  'chaidh  dhachaidh  uainn, 


32  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'S  an  t-iomradh  laidir 
'Th'air  fhagail  againn  orr,' 

Gur  tu  'n  aon  uachd'ran 
Mu  thuath  's  an  talamh  so, 

Tha  cleachdadh  dhoighean 
Nan  se6d  bha  barraichte. 

Gur  cuspair  fial  thu, 
'S  tu  ciallach,  bunaideach, 

'N  ad  bheannachd  tuatha, 
Gun  ghruaim  mar  bhuineadh  dhut, 

Bheir  a  c6ir  do  'n  bhantraicb, 
'S  gach  fann  gu'n  cuidich  thu, 

Thu  fearail,  caomhail, 
'S  mu  d'  mhaoin  's  neo-sgrubail  thu. 

Gu  meal  thu  cairdeas, 
A's  gradh,  a's  beannachdan, 

A's  slaint,  a's  solas, 
'S  a'  choir  a  naisgeadh  dhut, 

'S  e  sud  gu'u  iarrainn, 
'S  do  shiol  bhi  maireannach, 

'An  seilbh  na  h-oighreachd, 
Gu  h-aoibhinn,  aighearrach. 

The  following  poem  on   the  Gaelic  Bards,  by  my  friend,  Mr. 
Farquhar  Macdonell,  speaks  for  itself  : — 

'Bhi  toirt  ainm,  cliu  'us  eachdraidh  dhuibh, 

Gu  beachdail  air  na  Baird 
A  thuinich  feadh  na  Gaidhealtachd, 

A's  fhearr  leibh  uam  an  drasd. 
Na  faighinn  iiin  a  bharrachd  uaibh, 

Bu  bhlasmhoireid  an  dan, 
'S  gur  fheudar  dhomh  'bhi  sgiobalta, 

A's  m'  inneal  bhi  'n  deagh  chail. 

Bha  baird  air  feadh  ar  Garbh-chriochan, 

'Bhios  ainmeil  anns  gach  linn, 
Thaobh  ghibhtean  ionmholt,  sonruichte, 

An  6ranan  ro  ghrinn, 
Gu'n  chum  iad  beo  'nns  na  fineachan 

Deagh  spiorad  agus  grid, 
Nach  leigeadh  cuing  a  charadh  orr, 

Le  namh  a  bh'  air  an  Ti. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  33 

Bha  feart  air  leth  's  gach  fear  aca, 

'S  fo  'm  meachainn  bha  gach  se6rs', 
Na  maithean,  's  gaisgich  ruatharach, 

An  sluagh  o  shean  gu  og ; 
Gu  stuigeadh  iad  's  na  cumasgan, 

An  curaidhnean  cho  seolt', 
'S  gu  'm  biodh  an  namh  a  thiotadh  ac', 
'Nan  sginichean  gun  de6. 

B'e  OISEAN  righ  nam  filidhean, 

B'e  'dhligheachas  an  c6t' ; 
Bha  Homer  carach,  geur-chuiseach, 

Gu  seideadh  suas  a  she6id, 
Ach  le  buaidh  a  chaismeachd-sa, 

Bhiodh  gaisgich  bhras  fo  shrol, 
A  sgriosadh  as  na  Greugaich  ud, 

'S  gach  legion  bh'  anns  a'  Eoimh. 

Bu  tiamhaidh,  goirt  a  chaoireanan, 

'N  am  laochraidh  chur  'sa  chill ; 
Bu  trie  a  sheinn  e  oranan, 

Gu  solas  do  Mhalmhin, 
Cha  d'  fhiosraich  mi,  's  cha  chuala  mi, 

Cho  suairce  ris  'san  t-slth, 
'S  le  eachdraidhean  gu'n  thathaich  e 

Na  Gaidheil  ris  an  tir. 

Gu'm  b'  oranach,  ro  mhanranach, 

Bha  MAIBI  EUADH  NIC  LEOID, 
Gu'n  d"  altruim  i  seachd  uachdarain, 

Cho  uasal  's  sheas  'am  broig  ; 
Bu  taitneach  leath'  bhi  brlodaladh, 

Deagh  innsginn  nam  fear  6g', 
A'  sloinneadh  dhoibh  an  sinnsirean, 

'S  gach  milidh  bha  dheth  'n  seors'. 

Bha  'n  ceartas  uair  mar  's  fiosrach  sibh, 

Air  biodagaibh  nan  sonn, 
'S  gu  tional  feachd  le  geur  lannaibh, 

'Chur  eucoraich  fo  'bhonn. 
Co  sheas  'am  broig  bu  tabhachdaich* 

Le  bardachad  no  IAN  LOM  1 
'S  gach  neach  bhiod  foilleil,  fein-chuiseach, 

'Se  dh-^isgeadh  iad  BOB  DONN, 


34  Gaelic  Sooieiy  of  Inverness. 

Bha  'n  CLARSAIB  DALL  gu  h-ailghiosach, 

Aig  armuinn  teach  Mhic  Le6id, 
An  aitim  fhearail,  dhaonnachdach, 

A  b'  f  haoilteachaile  gloir, 
Cha  laidlieadh  sprochd  no  campar  orr', 

Le  canntaireachd  a  bheoil, 
'S  mac-talla  'cluich  gu  forganach, 

Ki  torghanaich  a  mhe6ir. 

Bha  ALASDAIR  DUBH  DOMHNULLACH, 

A's  oigridh  greis  fo  'iul, 
Gu'n  d'  fhalbh  e  measg  nam  fineachan, 

Ga'n  tional  dha  na  Phrionns', 
'S  le  uirghillean  deas,  geur-chuiseach, 

Gu'n  d'  eirich  iad  gu  dluth, 
'S  mur  b'  e  foill  d'  an  sarachadh, 

Bhiodh  Tearlacb  fo  na  chrun. 

Gu'n  mhol  e  aillt,  a's  glacagan, 

A's  gaisgich  ghasd'  a  db.utb.ch' ; 
'S  tha  'iorraman  cho  brosnachail, 

'S  a'  sgoth  air  bharr  nan  sugh, 
'S  ged  dh-atadh.  iad  gu  dasannach, 

A'  barcadh  air  gach  taobh, 
*N  uair  chluinneas  fir  chul  alaich  iad, 

Gur  tabhachdach  an1  surd. 

BUCHANAN  f  buair  dbeth  'n  lanachd  sin 

'S  a'  ghras,  nach  caith  a  chaoidh, 
Le  creideamh  fior-ghlan  dealasach, 

'Einn  barraicht'  a  chuid  laoidh, 
Do'n  chreidmheach  luaidh  e  shonasan, 

'S  a  mhallachdan  do  'n  daoi, 
A'  cuireadh  pbeacach  ardanach, 

Do'n  Aros  aig  ua  Naoimh. 

Gu  moladh  chnoc,  a's  choireachan, 

A's  monaidhean  an  f  hraoich, 
A's  feidh,  a's  spurt,  a's  gunaireachd 

B'  e  'n  urrainn  MAC-AN-T-SAOIR, 
Bu  taitneach  leis  bhi  sealgaireachd 

'An  garbhlaichean  nam  maol, 
'S  nior  leig  e  falbh  nan  eud-bheann  deth, 

Gu  'n  gheill  e  leis  an  aois. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  35 

UILLEAM  Eos  bha  'n  Gearrloch  ac'; 

Bu  mhanranach  a  dhuain, 
Gu  moladh  feartan  ailleagain 

Aon  bhard  cha  d'  thug  air  buaidh, 
Bha  'bhriathran  snasinhor,  nadurra, 

Neo-f  haillingeach  gach  uair ; 
'S  e  'n  gaol  a  rinn  a  leonadh-san, 

'S  thug  og  e  chum  na  h-uaigh. 

Gu'm  faodainn  tuilleadh  ainmeachadh 

'Bha  'n  garbhlaichean  nam  beann, 
A  bhaird  nach  fhaighte  gille  dhoibh 

'Measg  fhilidhnean  nan  Gall, 
Ach  's  fheudar  dhuibh  bhi  toilicht', 

Le  na  mhol  mi  aig  an  dm  : 
Bi'dh  iomradh  fada,  farsuinn  ore, 

Co-mhaireannach  ri  'n  cainnt. 

Gur  iomadh  neach  a  dh'aithris  dhomh 

'Bha  thairis  seach  an  Eorp  ; 
'An  talamh  teth  nan  Innseanach, 

'S  'an  tireabh  sneachdach,  reot ; 
Gur  minig  thog  a  bhardachd  ac', 

An  caileachdan  o  bhron, 
Le  'n  toirt  air  ais  'n  an  inntinnean, 

Do  'n  tlr  san  robh  iad  6g. 

Tlr  bhainneach,  mhealach,  thacarach, 

Tlr  fhasgach,  ghartach,  Ian, 
Tlr  channach,  chnocach,  laganach, 

Tlr  ghleannach,  's  gaisgeil'  sair, 
Tlr  f  hraochach,  dhosrach,  thiorail  i, 

Tlr  fhialaidh,  phailt,  'na  daimh, 
Tlr  mheannach,  mhartach,  fhiadh-ghroidheach, 

Tlr  sgialachdach  nam  bard. 

Norman  Nicolson,  Scorribreck,  Skye,  appears  to  have  been,  in 
his  day,  a  poet  of  no  mean  order.  The  following  song  by  him 
describes  his  feelings  on  being  deprived  of  his  hunting  liberties  in 
the  Isle  of  Mist : — 

Seisd — 'S  gann  gu  'n  dirich  mi  chaoidh 

'Dh-ionnsaidh  frithean  a'  mhonaidh, 
'S  gann  gu  'n  dirich  mi  'chaoidh. 


Gaelic  Sociefy  of  Inverness. 

Thainig  litir  a  Dun-Eideann 
Nach  faodainn  fhein  nis  dol  do  'n  tnhonadh, 
'S  gann,  &c. 

Padruig  Mor  an  Ceann-Loch-Aoinard, 
Rinn  e  'n  fhoill  's  cha  d'  rinn  e  buinneig. 

Tha  mo  ghunna  caol  air  meirgeadh 
Cha  'n  fhaodar  a  dearbhadh  tuille. 

Tha  i  'n  crochadh  air  na  tairgnean — 
Cha  do  thoill  i  h-aite  fuirich. 

'S  ioma  latha  sgith  a  bha  mi, 

'N  am  suidhe  leath  's  i  Ian,  air  tulaich. 

'Gabhail  sealladh  air  na  sleibhtean, 
Far  am  bi  na  feidh  a'  fuireach. 

Far  am  biodh  an  damh  's  a  chul  bruite, 
'N  uair  rachainn-sa  le  m'  run  air  m'  uilinn. 

'S  trie  a  niharbb  mi  fiadh  nan  stuchd-bheann 
Air  mo  ghluin  's  mi  lubadh  m'  uilinn. 

Mur  a  biodh  brathair  mo  mhathar, 
Bhiodh  fiadh  nan  ard-bheann  a's  fuil  air. 

Ach  o'n  dh'  fhas  an  lagh  cho  laidir, 
'S  fhearr  bhi  sabhailt'  o  gach  cunnart. 

Na  'm  biodh  mo  chrodh-laoigh  air  buaile, 
Dh'  fhaodainn  luaidh'  a  chur  a  gunna. 

Ach  a  nis  gur  fheudar  striochdadh — 
'S  fear  gun  chiall  a  theid  an  cunnart. 

Fhuair  mi  litir  o  na  h-uaislean, 

ISTach  fhaodainn  luaidh'  a  chur  a  gunna. 

Bheir  mi  'n  ruaig  so  do  na  h-Innsean 
Feuch  an  dean  mi  fhein  ann  buinneag. 

Cha  'n  fhaic  Padruig  mi  air  faireadh, 
'S  cha  chluinn  e  stairirich  mo  ghunna. 

Seisd — 'S  gann  gu  'n  dirich  mi  chaoidh 

'Dh-ionnsaidh  frithean  a'  mhonaidh, 
'S  gann  gu  'n  dirich  mi  chaoidh 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  37 

As  indicated  in  the  above  song,  Norman  did  not  appreciate  the 
restrictions  that  were  put  on  him,  and  he  emigrated,  never  to 
return  to  his  native  land.  The  following  was  composed  on  him 
about  the  time  he  left  Skye  : — 

Tha  mi  fo  churam  's  fo  mhoran  curaim, 

'S  mo  ghaol  air  ciiirtear  a'  bhroillich  ghle-ghil, 

Tha  mi  fo  churam  i-ii-ro-eile. 

Tha  mi  fo  mhi-ghean, 

'S  mi  'n  iomall  sgire, 

'S  nach  fheud  mi  sgriobhadh 

A  dh'  ionnsuidh  m'  fheudail. 
Tha  mi  fo  churam  's  fo  mhoran  curaim,  &c. 

'S  ma  gheibh  mi  uine, 
Gu'm  fag  mi  'n  duthaich, 
'S  gu'n  lean  mi'  'n  cumhnant' 
A  rinn  thu  fein  rium. 
Tha  mi  fo  churam  's  fo  mhoran  curaim,  &c. 

'S  ma  gheibh  mi  airgiod 
A  bheir  air  falbh  mi, 
Gu'n  lean  mi  Tormad 
'S  cha  dheala'  mi  ce"um  ris. 
Tha  mi  fo  churam  's  fo  mhoran  curaim,  &c. 

'S  mo  ghaol  an  t-armunn, 
Bu  mhaith  gu  manran, 
'S  tu  le  do  laimhe, 
Air  bharr  'nan  ge"ugan. 
Tha  mi  fo  churam  's  fo  mhoran  curaim,  &c. 

'S  ged  thig  an  geamhradh, 
Is  dm  nam  bainnsean, 
Cha  'n  fhan  mi  ann  sin 
Gun  m'  annsachd  fein  ann. 
Tha  mi  fo  churam  's  fo  mhoran  curaim,  &c. 

Mo  ghaol  an  t-oig-fhear, 
A's  gile,  bhoidh  che, 
'S  e  'n  diugh  a'  se61adh 
Nam  mor-chuan  beucach. 
Tha  mi  fo  churam  'B  fo  mhoran  curaim,  &c. 


38  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'S  ged  thig  fear-fuadain 

Cha  taobh  mi  uair  ris, 

Oir  's  fada  uam-sa 

Air  chuan  na  threig  mi, 
Tha  rni  fo  churam  's  fo  mhoran  curaim, 
'S  mo  ghaol  air  cuirtear  a'  bhroillich  ghle-ghil 
Tha  mi  fo  churam  i-u-ro-eile. 

For  the  following  verses — entitled  "  Failte  'Chait " — which  are 
seemingly  very  old,  I  am  indebted  to  my  friend,  Mr.  D.  C.  Mac- 
pherson,* Edinburgh,  the  "  Abrach  "  of  the  Gael : — 

Mile  failte  dhut,  a  chait, 

Bho'n  a  thachair  dhut  'bhi  'm  achd  ; 

Cuim'  nach  leigteadh  m<5ran  leat, 

'S  a  liuthad  bean  a  thus:  ro-ghradh  dhuit. 


*  Since  the  above  was  written,  poor  "Abrach"  went  over  to  the  majority, 
having  died  suddenly  at  Edinburgh,  on  June  23,  1880.  The  following  obituary 
notice,  which  appeared  in  the  Daily  Free  Press  of  June  25,  may  be  quoted  : — 

"DEATH  OP  MR.  D.  C.  MACPHEBSON,  EDINBURGH. — "We  regret  to  learn  of 
the  premature  death  of  Mr.  Donald  C.  Macpherson,  assistant  Librarian  of  the 
Advocates'  Library,  Edinburgh,  which  took  place  at  Edinburgh,  on  Wednesday. 
Mr.  Macpherson  belonged  to  Bohuntin,  in  the  Braes  of  Lochaber,  and  was  a  pupil 
of  James  Munro  of  Kilmonivaig,  the  Gaelic  grammarian.  In  early  years  he  mani- 
fested a  desire  to  be  well  versed  in  the  literature  of  the  Highlands,  and  under  Mr. 
Munro's  tuition  he  began  the  study  of  the  Gaelic  language.  This  field  of  inquiry 
he  never  abandoned,  but  he  also  devoted  himself  to  English  literature,  and,  being 
a  good  linguist,  he  was  well  versed  in  the  literatures  of  Greece  and  Home,  as  well 
as  those  of  Germany  and  France.  Several  years  ago  he  published  an  exceedingly 
good  collection  of  Gaelic  songs  never  before  published — "An  Duanaire  " — and 
this  volume  met  with  a  good  market,  and  will  be  found  in  every  Gaelic  collector's 
library.  Only  last  year  he  issued  Part  I.  of  an  exhaustive  Gaelic  Grammar,  and 
it  is  to  be  hoped  that  Part  II.  is  sufficiently  far  advanced  to  enable  the  publishers 
to  complete  the  work.  He  revisited  Lochaber  as  often  as  opportunities  presented 
themselves,  and  there  imbibed  a  fresh  store  of  the  song  and  story  of  his  native 
country.  The  Advocates'  Library  afforded  him  ample  facilities  for  prosecuting 
his  antiquarian  and  Celtic  researches,  and  some  old  Gaelic  poems  unearthed  by  him 
among  its  archives  were  contributed  to  Mr.  J.  F.  Campbell's  "Leabhar  na 
Feinne"  and  other  publications.  During  the  publication  of  the  Gael,  he  was  an 
active  contributor  to  its  pages,  and  for  a  time  its  conductor.  He  was  also  of  in- 
valuable service  to  Messrs.  Maclachlan  &  Stewart  in  the  publishing  and  re-issuing 
of  their  numerous  Gaelic  publications ;  and,  it  may  be  added,  that  he  contem- 
plated publishing  an  edition  of  the  Poetical  Works  of  Iain  Lorn,  the  Lochaber 
bard,  who  witnessed  the  battle  of  Inveiiochy  in  1645  and  sang  the  praises  of 
Montrose,  and  was  regarded  as  a  sort  of  Poet  Laureate  to  Charles  II.  In  religion 
Mr.  Macpherson  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  we  believe  we  are  not  violating  a 
secret  when  we  state  that  the  Very  Rev.  Father  Vaughan,  Prior  of  St.  Benedict's 
Monastery  and  College,  Fort-Augustus,  was  desirous  of  engaging  him  as  a  Gaelic 
Professor  in  the  College.  In  his  habits  Mr.  Macpherson  was  exceedingly  quiet 
and  unassuming,  and  only  those  who  intimately  knew  him  were  aware  of  his 
varied  accomplishments,  and  the  extensive  range  of  his  researches. " 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  39 

'N  tu  cat  fiadhaich  bhiodh  aig  Fionn ; 
Ri  fiadliacli  bho  ghleann  gu  gleann  ; 
An  tu  'bh'  aig  Oscar  an  f huilt  fhinn, 
Dh'  fhag  thu  laoich  fo  dhochar  ann. 

An  tu  'bh.'  aig  Lughaidh  Mac-Loin, 
Ciod  is  fath  nach  cumhainn  an  t-sleagh  ; 
No  'n  tu  chuir  an  t-suil  mu'n  tor, 
No  'n  tu  bhuin  ri  Brian  nam  bladh. 

An  tu  chaidh  fo  'n  leirg  a  null, 
An  la  sin  a  shealg  nam  beann ; 
No  'n  tu  chuir  an  t-suil  fa'n  toll, 
No  'n  tu  chrom  ga  cunntas  thall. 

An  tu  chaidh  gu  comunnach  ciuin 

Gu  bruth-soluis  nam  ban  saor, 

Le  maisealachd  do  dha  shtil, 

Dh'  fhag  thu  triuir  dhiubh  'n  trom-ghaol. 

Mo  thruaighe  thusa,  Dhonnachaidh, 
Cha  do  thachair  dhut  bhi  falchaidh 
Ma  bheirear  ort  a  nochd  ionnsuidh, 
lonnsaichear  dhut  air  a'  chroich  dannsa. 

Dona  sin,  a  chait  na  cluaise, 
Tachdar  thusa  'n  geall  a'  chaise, 
locaidh  do  mhuineal  a  smuais  as, 
'S  i  'n  uair  so  deireadh  do  lath'-sa. 

A  chait  chruaidh  bu  nihath  do  chliu, 
But  luthor  thu  fo'n  am  so  'n  de, 
Miad  nam  buillean  fhuair  do  chroit, 
Thug  iad  dhiot  an  gruth  's  an  ce. 

Dh'  aithn'eas  uach  bu  dileas  dut 
Lamhan  Catriona  gu  trie  ; 
Miad  nan  urchair  a  chaidh  thart, 
Dhuts',  a  chait,  cha  chunradh  glic. 

B'  fhearr  dhut  'bhi  'marbhadh  luchag, 
An  t-sealg  sin  bu  dual  do  phiseig 
Dol  do'n  bheinn  a  mharbluuih  uiseag 
Air  feadh  chuiseag  agus  dhriseug. 


40  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

But  I  must  conclude,  and,  in  doing  so,  permit  me  to  quote  a  good 
Highland  song  which  my  friend,  Mr.  F.  D.  Macdonell,  styles  "  Oran 
do  Lachlainn  Og  Mac-Ionmhainn,  leis  an  '  Aigeannaich '  Nighean 
Donh'uillGhuirm":— 


Gu'n  tug  mi  'n  ionnsuidh  bhearraideach, 
Mur  do  mhill  thu  m'  aithne  mi, 
Cha  b'  e  d'  fhuath  thug  thairis  mi, 
Ach  d'  aithris  air  bhi  falbh. 

Cha  b'  e  d'  fhuath,  &c. 

Ma  chaidh  thu  null  thar  linntichean, 
0  !  gu  ma  slan  a  chi  mi  thu, 
Fhir  chuil  dualaich,  shniomhanaich, 
'S  ann  leat  bu  mhiann  'bhi  mor. 
Fhir  chuil  dualaich,  &c. 

Bu  mhiann  leat  bata  dionach, 
'S  i  gu  cuimte,  fuaighte,  finealta, 
A  rachadh  suas  's  nach  diobaireadh, 
'S  nach  ciosnaicheadh  nmir  mhor. 
A  rachadh  suas,  &c. 

Le  d'  sgioba  treubhach,  furachail, 
Bu  ro  mhath  feum  's  na  cunnartan, 
A  ghleidheadh  air  bharr  tuinne  i, 
Cheart  aindeoin  cur  'us  ceo. 
A  ghleidheadh,  &c. 

Gu  'n  innsinn  cuid  dheth  d'  abhaistean, 
'N  am  dol  air  tir  'am  baghan  duit, 
Bhiodh  fion  'us  branndaidh  laidir 
A'  cur  blaths  air  gillean  og'. 
Bhiodh  fion,  &c. 

Gu'm  faighte  cuirm  gun  easbhuidh 
'S  an  taigh  mh6r  nach  foghnadh  beagan  doibh, 
Bhiodh  61  'us  ce61  nam  feadan 
A'  co-fhreagradh  mu  do  bh6rd. 
Bhiodh  61,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Ge/tic  Porffo/io.  41 

Bu  dual  dut  sud  o  d'  shinnsirean, 
'JS"  am  suidhe  gu  do  dhinneir  dhut, 
Bhiodh  clarsairean,  bhiodh  piobairean, 
Bhiodh  fidhleirean  ri  ce61. 

Bhiodh  clarsairean,  &c. 

Gur  math  thig  leine  'n  anart  dhut, 
Thig  triubhais  chaol  ro  chaniiach  dhut, 
Brog  bhileach  dhubh  ga  teannachadh, 
M'  an  troidh  nach  gearain  Ie6n. 
Brog  bhileach,  &c. 

Thig  cota  'n  aodach  Spainneach  dhut, 
Theid  guinea  's  crun  a  phaigheadh  air, 

0  !  cha'n  eil  cron  r'  a  aireamh  ort, 
Ach  aillealachd  do  neoil. 

0  !  cha-an  'eil  cron,  &c. 

Gu'n  tig  na  h-airm  gu  h-innealta, 
Air  feileadh  'an  crios  iomachair, 
Lann  thana,  gheur,  ghorm,  ghuineach, 
A's  i  fulangach  ni  's  Ie6r. 
Lann  thana,  &c. 

'N  lann  ris  an  caint'  an  tri-chlaiseach, 

1  ur,  a's  sar  cheann  Ileach  oirr', 
Fo'n  ghualainn  nach  diobradh  i 

'S  i  dileas  sios  gu  d'  dhorn. 
Fo'n  ghualainn,  &c. 

Airm  eile  gu'm  bu  mhiannach  leat, 
Bhiodh  dag  air  ghleus  sniomhain  ort, 
Sgian  chaol  d'  an  t-seorsa  liomharra, 
Fior  innleachdach  o'n  6rd. 
Sgian  chaol,  &c. 

Gur  math  thig  adharc  bhalla-bhreac  dhut, 
Sreang  shiod'  'us  stapuill  airgid  innt', 
Gunna  caol  air  ghleus  neo-chearbach 
Leis  an  deant'  an  earb  a  leon. 
Gunna  caol,  &c. 


42  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Ge  b'  e  chasadh  eucoir  ort, 
'S  tu  anns  na  h-airm  's  an  eideadh  ud, 
Gur  barail  learn  gum  feumadh  e 
Bhi  tigh  'n  a'  d'  reir  d'  a  dheoinn. 
Gur  barail  learn,  &c. 

Tha  'ghaoth  an  iar  cho  caitlireamach, 
'S  gu'n  chum  i  'n  raoir  a'  m'  cbaithris  mi, 
A'  smuaintinn  air  na  feara  sin, 
'S  mo  mhile  beannachd  leo. 
A'  smuaintinn,  &c. 

Gur  sealgair  geoidh  us  cathain  thu, 
'S  r6in  nihaoil  ri  taobh  na  mara  thu, 
Theid  mial-choin  ann  an  tabhann  leat, 
'S  bi  'dh  abhaic  air  an  lorg. 
Theid  miol-choin,  &c. 

'S  beag  ioghnadh  thu  bhi  ailleasach, 
Gur  rioghail  am  mac  Gaidheil  thu, 
'S  a  liuthad  teaghlach  statoil 
'M  bi  do  shlaint'  aca  ga  h-61. 
'S  a  liuthad,  &c. 

'S  cha'n  ioghnadh  sud  a  thachairt  dhut, 
'S  tu  dearbh  mhac  iir  narn  macannan, 
'S  tu  'n  Ie6mhann  treubhach,  tartarach, 
Ceud  oighre  Lachluinn  oig. 

'S  tu  'n  Ie6mhann,  &c. 


Bi  'dh  'chlann  sin  Mhic-'ic-Alasdair, 
0  Chnoideart  's  o  Ghleann-Garaidh  leat, 
An  aon  triath  neart  gach  caraid  leis, 
Le  'm  math  sibh  a  bhi  be6. 
An  aon  triath,  &c. 

Bi  'dh  Mac  Mhic  Alein  Armailtich, 
A's  uachdran  Chloinn  Chamshroin  leat, 
A'  sior  dhol  suas  an  ainmealachd, 
Le  'n  aigneadh  meanmnach,  mor. 
A'  sior  dhol  suas,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  43 

Bi'dh  Oighre  Chaisteil  Thioraim  leat, 
Gur  faighneachdail  luchd  cinnidh  air, 
0  ghrunnd  na  fola  mireanaich, 
Tha  'g  imeachd  feadh  do  phoir. 
0  ghrunud,  &c. 

Cha-n  'eil  mi  fein  gun  churam  orm, 
Mu  'n  dh'  fhalbh  air  a'  chuan  Mhuideartach, 
Ach  thus'  a  Righ  bhi  d'  stiuradair 
Air  chill  nam  feara  og'. 

Ach  thus'  a  Righ,  &c. 

26TH  NOVEMBER,   1879. 

The  principal  business  at  this  meeting  was  a  discussion — 
"  Whether  the  Highlanders  in  Scotland  at  the  present  day  had 
degenerated  as  compared  with  the  Highlanders  of  the  past."  The 
majority  of  those  present  were  of  opinion  that  the  Highlanders  have 
degenerated. 

30TH  DECEMBER,  1879. 

The  meeting  having  made  arrangements  for  the  next  dinner 
of  the  Society,  the  Secretary  read  a  sixth  series  of  Leaves  from 
his  Celtic  Portfolio. 


LEAVES  FROM  MY  CELTIC  PORTFOLIO. 
VI. 

In  placing  before  you  a  sixth  series  of  these  "  Leaves,"  I  will 
begin  by  quoting  a  popular  Gaelic  song  which  is  known  in  this 
neighbourhood  as  Or  an  Tain  Mhic  Dhughaill.  It  evinces  the  true 
spirit  of  poetry,  and  effectually  disarms  the  taunt  that  the  High- 
landers have  no  love  or  appreciation  of  the  beautiful  in  Nature  as 
it  appears  around  them.  The  description  here  of  rural  scenes,  and 
the  manner  in  which  their  splendour  is  contrasted  with  the  turmoil 
of  the  city,  is,  to  my  mind,  truly  felicitous  : — 

Ged  is  socrach  mo  leabaidh 
Cha'n  e  'n  cadal  'tha  shurd  orm — 
B'  anns'  'bhi  suaint  ann  a'rn'  bhreacan, 
Ann  an  giaiceagau  Riisgaich — 
Ho-r<5,  hii-ill,  ho-r6. 


44  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Banns'  bhi  suaint  ann  a'm'  bhreacan, 
Ann  an  glaiceagan  Biisgaich, 
Far  am  minig  a  bha  nii, 
lomadh  la'  air  bheag  curam — 
Ho-r6  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 

Far  am  minig  a'  bha  mi, 
lomadh  la  air  bheag  curam  ; 
'S  bhiodh  mo  ghunna  fo  m'  achlais, 
'Cumail  fasgadh  bho  'n  driuchd  oirr' — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-rd 

'S  bhiodh  mo  ghunna  fo  m'  achlais 
'Cumail  fasgadh  bho  'n  driuchd  oirr', 
'S  air  thruimid  na  fraise, 
'S  i  gu'n  lasadh  am  fudar — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-ro". 

'S  air  thruimid  na  fraise, 
'S  i  gu'n  lasadh  am  fudar — 
Cha  b'e  clagraich  na  sraidean  so 
'B'  abhaist  mo  dhusgadh — 
Ho-r<5,  hu-ill,  ho-ro. 

Cha  b'e  clagraich  na  sraidean  so 
'B'  abhaist  mo  dhusgadh, 
'S  cha  be  clag  nan  coig  uairean 
'Bhiodh  na  m'  chluasan  a'  dusgadh. — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 

Cha  be  clag  nan  coig  uairean 
'Bhiodh  na  m'  chluasan  a'  dusgadh, 
Ach  a'  mhusic  bu  bhoidhche 
'Bh'  aig  na  h-eoin  am  Brai'-Rusgaich — 
Ho-r6,  hu-iU,  ho-r6. 

Ach  a'  mhusic  bu  bhoidhche 
'Bh'  aig  na  h-eoin  am  Brai'-Rusgaich — 
Bhiodh  a'  chuthag  air  chreagan 
'S  i  'toirt  freagairt  do'n  smiidan — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 


Leaves  from  my  Oeltic  Portfolio.  45 

Bhiodh  a'  chuthag  air  chreagan 
'S  i  'toirt  freagairt  do'n  smudan, 
'S  bhiodh  an  smeorach  gu  h-ard  ann, 
'S  i  air  bharr  nam  bad  dii'-ghorm — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill.  ho-ro". 

'S  bhiodh  an  sme6rach  gu  h-ard  ann, 
'S  i  air  bharr  nam  bad  du'-ghorm, 
Agus  Robin  gu  h-iosal 
Ann  an  iochdar  nan  dlu-phreas — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-rd. 

Agus  Rolin  gu  h-iosal 
Ann  an  iochdar  nan  dlu-phreas — 
Anns  na'  meanganan  boidheach — 
'S  damh  na  croice  ga'n  ruisgeadh — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 


Anns  na  meanganan  b6idheach 
'S  damh  na  croice  ga'n  ruisgeadh — 
'.Nuair  thig  oidhch'  Fheill-an-R6id  oirn, 
Learn  bu  bhoidheach  a  bhuilich — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 

'Nuair  thig  oidhch'  Fheill-an-Eoid  oirn, 
Learn  bu  bhoidheach  a  bhuilich, 
'S  iad  ag  iarraidh  a  che"ile, 
'N  de"igh  eiridh  bho'n  ur-pholl — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 

'S  iad  ag  iarraidh  a  che"ile, 
'N  d^igh  eiridh  bho'n  ur-pholl ; 
'S  ann  an  sud  'bhiodh  an  fhailte 
Bis  an  leannan  bu  chuirteil — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 

'S  ann  an  sud  'bhiodh  an  fhailte 
Eis  an  leannan  bu  chuirteil 
Es'  ag  iarraidh  a  cairdeis, 
'S  ise  's  nair  leath  a  dhiultadh, 
Ho-r6  hii-ill  ho-r6. 


46  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Es*  ag  iarraidh  a  cairdeis, 
'S  ise  's  nair  leath  a  dhiultadh  ; 
'8  ged  a  laidh  iad  le  che"ile, 
Cha  chur  a  chle"ir  orra  curam. 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 

'S  ged  a  laidli  iad  be  che'ile, 
Cha  chuir  a  chleir  orra  curam ; 
Cha  teid  iad  gu  seisean 
'S  gu  brath  cha'n  fhaicear  aig  cuirt  iad. 
Ho-r<$,  hu-ill,  ho-r<5. 

Cha  teid  iad  gu  seisean 
'S  gu  brath  cha'n  fhaicear  aig  cttirt  iad  ; 
Cha  teid  e  'n  tigh-6sda — 
Cha  mhath  a  ch6rdas  an  liunn  ris. 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-rd. 

Cha  teid  e  'n  tigh-6sda 
Cha  mhath  'chordas  an  liunn  ris  ; 
Cha  'n  61  e  diar  fiona 
Ged  a  dh'  iarrtair  na  cruin  air. 
Ho-r6  hu-ill,  ho-ro. 

Cha  'n  61  e  diar  fiona, 
Ged  a  dh'  iarrtair  na  cruin  air  ; 
Cha  'n  f  hearr  'thig  an  drama 
Eis  an  stamaig  is  cubhraidh. 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 

Cha  'n  fhearr  'thig  an  drama 
Ris  an  stamaig  is  cubhraidh  ; 
'S  m6r  gur  h-anns'  leis  am  fior-uisg' 
'Thig  o  iochdar  nan  dlu'-chreig. 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-rd 

'S  m6r  gur  h-anns'  leis  am  fior-uisg' 
'Thig  o  iochdar  nan  dlu'-chreig  ; 
Cha  be  faileadh  nan  cladhan 
'Gheibhte  'n  doire  mo  ruin-sa. 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-rd. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  47 

Cha  be  faileadh  nan  cladhan, 
'Gheibhte  'n  doire  mo  ruin-sa, 
Ach  tr6ru  fhaileadh  nam  mealla, 
Dheth  na  meanganan  iira. 

Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r<5. 

Ach  tr6m  fhaileadh  nam  mealla 
Dheth  na  meanganan  iira  : 
'S  co  's  urrain  a  raidhte 
Nach  bi'  mi  ihathasd  ann  an  Eusgaich — 
Ho-r6,  hu-ill,  ho-r6. 

The  following  verses  by  the  Eev.  A.  Macgregor  Kose,  long  a 
member  of  this  Society,  deserve  to  be  given  among  these  Leaves  : — 


CLAN    NAN   GAIDHEAL    AN   GUAILLNIBH   A   CHEILB. 

"  Highlanders,  Shoulder  to  Shoulder" 

The  war-cry  given  to  his  men  by  the  late  Lieutenant-General 
Gordon  of  Lochdhu,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Nive,  in  the  Peninsular 
War. 

Long  ago  when  Eoman  armies, 

Under  mighty  Caesar  came, 
To  add  the  conquest  of  our  island, 

To  the  glory  of  their  name  ; 
Say,  who  foiled  their  fiercest  efforts, 

Made  the  unconquered  legions  fail? 
Who  1  Our  gallant  Celtic  fathers  — 
Clann  nan  Gaidheal  'n  guaillnibh  ' 


Who,  when  Danish  pirate  galleys 

Poured  their  hordes  on  Scotia's  strand, 
Tamed  the  Yikings,  curbed  the  Norsemen, 

Kept  the  freedom  of  the  land  1 
Who,  when  on  the  cherished  freedom, 

Edward  laid  his  hand  of  mail, 
Eeft  from  Norinan  grasp  their  birthright  ? 

Clann  nan  Gaidheal  'n  guaillnibh  'cheil'. 

Who,  when  exiled,  crownless,  homeless, 
Sought  their  shelter  and  their  aid, 

Gave  him  welcome,  and,  to  right  him, 
Donned  the  targe  and  drew  the  blade  ? 


48  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Who,  when  dark  Culloden's  tidings, 
Raised  the  stricken  mourner's  wail, 

Scorned  the  traitor's  part  and  saved  him  1 
Clann  nan  Gaidheal  'n  guaillnibh  'che"iF. 


Who,  when  Europe's  proudest  monarchs, 

Trembled  at  Napoleon's  frown, 
Met  him,  dared  him,  dimned  his  glory, 

Stripped  him  of  his  borrowed  crown  1 
Who,  in  squares  that  stood  unbroken, 

Spite  of  horse  and  iron  hail, 
Gained  the  day  that  sealed  his  downfall  ? 

Clann  nan  Gaidheal  'n  guaillnibh 


Where  the  Euxine's  stormy  waters 

Chafe  the  far  Crimean  shore, 
There  have  sounded  Highland  pibrochs, 

There  has  gleamed  the  red  claymore. 
Who  were  they  at  Balaklava, 

Made  the  stoutest  Russian  quail  ? 
The  "  thin  red  line  "  of  brave  Sir  Colin — 

Clann  nan  Gaidheal  'n  guaillnibh  'cheil'. 


Who  forgets  those  shrieks  of  anguish, 

Wafted  from  the  Indian  shore, 
When  wives  and  babes  were  foully  slain, 

At  Delhi,  Lucknow,  Cawnpore  ? 
Who  then,  with  gallant  Havelock, 

Wrecked  the  vengeance  of  the  Gael 
On  the  dusky  demon  rebels  1 

Clann  nan  Gaidheal  'n  guaillnibh  ' 


Yes  !  where'er  the  wrongs  of  Britain, 

Or  oppression's  woes  and  pains, 
Claim  redress,  the  Highland  broadsword 

Still  the  meed  of  honour  gains. 
Heaven  then  bless  the  land  that  gives  us, 

From  its  every  strath  and  vale, 
Free  brave  hearts  to  guard  our  honour — 

Claun  nan  Gaidheal  'n  guaillnibh  'che'ir, 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  49 

The  following  "  Moladh  do  Fhear  na  Ceapaicli  's  do  'n  phiob," 
by  Iain  Mac  Ailein,  needs  no  introduction  : — 

'Ghilleasbuig,  mo  bheannachd  ri  m'  bheo 

Dh'fhear  aithris  do  ghuiomh', 

Bhrigh  os  ceann  na  chual  thu  de  cheol, 

Thug  thu  'n  t-urram  do  'n  phiob. 

Cha  chuala  luchd-teud  sgainneil  do  bheoil 

'S  tu  bu  ro-mhath  gan  diol ; 

Ach  gu'm  b'fhearr  leat  culaidh  a  bhrosnachadh  s!6igh 

Na  sochair  gach  sith'. 

'S  iomadh  larl'  ann  an  Albainn  an  nochd 

'S  dearbhte  learn  sin, 

Ri  am  togail  armailt  air  chois, 

'S  a'  bhlar  dheanadh  sgrios, 

Chionn  a  cluinntinn  anmoch  is  moch — 

Bean  am  mor-mheas 

'Bheireadh  mar  dhuais  dh'araraich  a  dos 

Airgiod  gun  f  hios. 

'S  dearbh  gu'n  robh  eanchainn  mhath  throm 

Agus  susbaint  gheur 

'S'n  f  hear  smaointich  an  toiseach  gu'n  coisneadh  i  bonn 

'Gus  f  hortan  do  dhean, 

Be  'n  obair  gach  lan-phort  'chur  oirr'  le  fonn 

'S  nach  cluinneadh  i  bheul ; 

Ach  ga'n  gearradh  gu  h-ullamh,  gach  siolladh's  gach  pong, 

Le  buillibh  a  mheur. 

Gu'm  bheil  cliu  air  abuicheid  gleois 

'S  fada  do  chaoidh 

lonnsramaid  mhaidean  nach  mor 

'S  coitcheannta  buaidh ; 

Cuiridh  i  smaointinn  gaisge  gu  leoir 

'X  gealtair  ga  thruas ; 

Thogadh  a  h-iolach  le  bras-bhullibh  mheoir 

Aigneadh  gacli  sluaigh. 

Gur  h-e  's  beusan  dhi  eiridh  le  sgairt 

'N  am  blar  bhi  ga  chur ; 

Anns  gach  saighdear  sparraidh  i  neart. 


50  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Le  eifeachd  a  puirt ; 
'Nuair  sheidear  anail  a  steach 
Cuiridh  sin  ceol  iullagach,  ait, 
An  rifeid  a  stuic. 

Is  ceil'  i  ni  eiridh  gun  chol, 

Olc  cha  bhuin  dhi ; 

Moran  de  riomhadh  cha'n  iarr  i  chur  oirr' ; 

Aodach  cha  sir. 

Laidh  ochdar  'na  leaba  le  toil 

De  mhacanaibh  fir ; 

'S  fiosrach  tha  mis'  nach  robh  smaointinn  air  cron 

Innt'  ann  am  bith. 

'S  fad'  'o  na  fhuair  sinn  taisbeanadh  shul 

Nach  bu  ghealtach  a  gnas ; 

Gu  bheil  mi  dearbht'  nach  rachadh  i  'n  cuil 

Gu  falach  gu  brach. 

'N  tus  gach  cath,  bith  fear  brath'  air  a  cul 

Deanadh  fabhar  do  chach  ; 

Laoch  borb  agus  gaisge  na  run 

'S  bratach  na  lairnh. 

An  t-urram  de  'n  chunnaic  mo  shuil 

Tha  Muile  dhuibh  'n  drast ; 

Ach  airson  Mhic-Cruimein,  o'n  bhuinnig  e  cliu, 

Leig  do  'n  duine  sin  tamh. 

Tha  againn  Conndulli ;  's  e  chunntas  mi  n  tus  ; 

'S  Iain  Mac  Uilleim,  a  dha ; 

Agus  Padruig,  an  treas  duine  'n  triuir 

Nach  uireasbhach  lamh. 

The  following  verses  come  very  appropriately  after  the  above  : — 

MOLADH  NA  PIOBA,  LE  FEAR  NA  CEAPAICH. 

'S  mairg  a  dhi-mhol  ceol  is  caismeachd, 
Brosnadh  sloigh  gu  gaisge  threin ; 
Mor-phiob  leis  an  duisgear  gach  misneach, 
A  torman  moid  is  misde  beum. 

Mo  ghaol  clarsacb,  ro-ghaol  piob  learn, 
Miothlachd  learn  an  ti  do  chain  ; 
'S  olc  an  duais  da  ceol  droch  chomain 
'M  bonnaibh  chluas  aig  ollamh  ri  dan. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  51 

Cha  bhi  mi  di-moladh  an  dain, 
Ach  sann  bu  mhath  an  dan  's  an  t-sith ; 
An  namhaid  cha  deachaidli  an  dan 
Kiamh  cho  dan'  's  a  chaidh  a  phiob. 

Na'm  faiceadh  tu  fir  air  an  leirg 
Fo  mheirghe'  am  bi  dearg  is  ban ; 
B'  fhearr  learn  spealtadh  dhi  ri  uair 
Na  na  bheil  gu  tuam  de  dhain. 

Bu  bhinn  learn  torman  a  dos 

'S  i  cruinneachadh  airm  fo  sgioil ; 

An  dan  nan  tigeadh  fo  brat 

Gu  ceart  gu  'm  b'  fhearr  leath'  bhi'  'n  lort. 

'Bhean  bhinn-fhaclach  nach  breun  sturt, 
Chiuin,  chiuin-fhaclach,  's  nior  bhreug  sin, 
'Labhras  gu  seimh  air  gach  magh 
'S  a  breid  air  slinneinibh  'fir. 

By  way  of  variation,  I  will  give  you  an  Irish  song,  which  will 
show  the  close  similarity  between  the  Gaelic  of  the  two  countries — 
for  any  educated  Highlander  who  can  read  his  mother  tongue 
ought  to  be  able  to  read  the  Irish  with  tolerable  ease : — 

AN    PHAISTIN    FIONN. 

Gradh  le  m'  anam  mo  Phaistin  Fionn  ! 
A  croidhe  's  a  h-aigne  ag  gaireadh  liom ; 
A  ciocha  geala  mar  blath  na  n-ubhal, 
'S  a  piob  mar  eala  la  Mharta. 

Cara  mo  chroidhe  mo  Phaistin  Fionn  ! 

Bh-fuil  a  da  gruadh  air  lasadh  mar  blath  na  gcrann ; 

Ta  rnesi  saor  air  mo  Phaistin  Fionn, 

Acht  arnhain  gur  olas  a  slainte  ! 

Da  m-beidhinn  's  a  m-baile  m-biodh  sugradh  a's  greann, 

No  idir  dha  bharraile  Ian  de  leann, 

Mo  chuilin  a  m'  aice  's  mo  lamh  faoi  a  ceann, 

Is  sugach  do  olfainn  a  slainte  ! 

Bhi  me  naoi  n-oichdhe  a  m'  luiclhe  go  bocht 

0  bheith  sinte  faoi  'n  dilinn  idir  dha  thor ; 

A  chumain  mo  chroidhe  's  tigh  !  's  me  ag  smuaineadh  ort, 

'S  na  faghainu-si  le  fead  na  le  glaodh  thu. 


52  Gaelic  Society  of  In  vern  ess. 

Treigf  ead  mo  charaid  's  mo  charaide  gaoil, 
A's  treigfead  a  maireann  de  mnaibh  an  t-saoighil ; 
Ni  threigfead  le  m'  mhairtheann  gradh  mo  chroidhe, 
Go  sinfear  a  g-comhrd  faoi  cMr  me  ! 

The  following  translation  of  it,  by  Edward  Walsh,  may  be  of 
interest  to  some  : — 

My  Paistin  Fionn  is  my  soul's  delight — 
Her  heart  laughs  out  in  her  blue  eyes  bright ; 
The  bloom  of  the  apple  her  bosom  white, 
Her  neck  like  the  March  swan's  in  whiteness  ! 

Love  of  my  bosom,  my  fair  Paistin, 
Whose  cheek  is  red  like  the  rose's  sheen, 
My  thoughts  of  the  maiden  are  pure  I  ween, 
Save  toasting  her  health  in  my  lightness. 

Were  I  in  our  village  where  sports  prevail, 
Between  two  barrels  of  brave,  brown  ale, 
My  fair  little  Paistin  to  list  my  tale, 
How  jovial  and  happy  I  'd  make  me  ! 

In  fever  for  nine  long  nights  I  've  lain, 
From  lying  in  the  hedgerow  beneath  the  rain, 
While,  gift  of  my  bosom !  I  hoped  in  vain 
Some  whistle  or  call  might  awake  ye  ! 

From  kinsfolk  and  friends,  my  fair  I  'd  flee, 
And  all  the  beautiful  maids  that  be, 
But  never  I  '11  leave  sweet  gra  machree 
Till  death  in  your  service  o'ertake  me. 

The  following  legend  and  verses,  communicated  by  Mr.  A.  Car- 
michael,  Benbecula,  are  well  worthy  of  being  recorded  here  : — "  The 
following  little  poem— all  of  it  I  have  been  able  to  recover — is  said 
to  have  been  composed  by  a  native  of  Benbecula,  known  as  Mac  'ic 
Thormaid  Mhoir.  It  is  an  exquisite  gem  in  beautiful  setting. 
The  tradition  concerning  the  reputed  author  is  not  less  romantic 
than  tragic.  A  young  man  of  personal  attractions  was  in  love  with 
a  young  maiden  of  great  beauty,  who  warmly  reciprocated  his 
attachment.  The  secret  of  their  love  was  known  only  to  themselves. 
The  young  man's  father  was  also  enamoured  of  the  girl,  and  sought 
her  in  marriage,  and  being  a  desirable  man,  and  a  man  of  substance, 


Leaves  from  my  GeHic  Portfolio.  53 

his  suit  was  strongly  encouraged  by  the  parents.  Ultimately 
matters  were  brought  to  a  crisis,  and  the  young  lovers  were  forced 
to  flee.  The  disappointed  and  jealous  father  followed  and  over- 
took them  at  Oban-Rughunarsaraidh,  near  Creagorry.  The  lovers 
took  refuge  in  a  den  on  an  artificial  islet  on  the  lake.  Not  choosing 
to  follow  them  across  the  clachan  to  the  den,  the  father,  bow  in  hand, 
and  eager  for  revenge,  stationed  himself  on  a  rocky  elevation  on  the 
border  of  the  lake,  within  range  of  the  den.  In  his  youthful  ardour, 
the  son  took  his  stand  on  the  castle  wall.  Both  being  good  marks- 
men, their  first  arrows  crossed,  and  took  effect  at  the  same  moment, 
and  both  were  shot  dead — the  son  by  the  father,  and  the  father  by 
the  son.  They  were  buried  where  they  fell,  and  their  graves  are 
still  pointed  out.  Tradition  attributes  these  verses  to  the  son.  But 
they  seem  to  me  to  evince  a  degree  of  refinement,  an  acquaintance 
with  silver,  gold,  and  precious  stones,  and  with  exquisite  beauty  in 
nature  and  art,  much  beyond  that  which  a  man  living  in  Benbecula 
in  the  time  of  bows  and  arrows  was  likely  to  possess.  Instead  of 
attempting  a  translation,  I  will  quote  a  verse  by  Guido  Guinicelli, 
given  in  Carey's  Dante,  much  resembling  these  Gaelic  verses.  But 
beautiful  as  are  the  lines  of  the  Italian  poet,  they  are,  to  my  think- 
ing, much  less  so  than  those  of  the  Gaelic  poet,  whosoever  he  may 
have  been : — 

Mar  cbirein  nan  stuagh  uaine  ta  mo  ghaol 
A  h-eugasg  tlath  mar  dhearsa  speuran  ard 
Alar  sheudan  loinneireach  a  da  shuil  chaoin 
Mar  arradh  air  bharr  sleibh  fo  ghrein  nan  trath. 

0  !  cait  am  facas  bean  is  aillidh  snuagh 
Ca'm  facas  riamh  air  cluan  le  ceumaibh  seimh 
Do  shamhuil  fein  a  gheug  nam  mile  buadh — 
Mar  chlach  a  breathadh  's  an  or  is  aillidh  sgeimh. 

"  To  the  blue  wave  I  liken  her,  and  sky, 
All  colour  that  with  pink  and  crimson  glows, 
Gold,  silver,  and  rich  stones ;  nay,  lovelier  grows 
E'en  Love  himself  when  she  is  standing  by." 

PUBG.,  Canto  xi.,  I.  95. 

The  following  elegy  on  the  late  James  Murray  Grant  of  Glen- 
moriston  was  composed  by  the  late  Angus  Macdonald,  the  first  bard 
of  our  Society  : — 

A  chruit  thiamhaidh  nam  pong  broin, 
Duisg  gu  ce61  bheir  de5ir  na'n  taom, 


54  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Seinn  gu  tr6m  mu'n  eug  a  leon 
Gach  Gaidlieal  comhla  air  gach  taobh. 
A  cheolraidh  bhroin  a'  chomhra  aigh, 
Dearrs  amach ;  mo  chail  na  much 
'San  can  mi  cliu  Mhic  Phadruig  ghraidh, 
Thar  tonn  do  shar  bha  riamh  'nar  duich. 
Thuit  a  chraoibh  bu  dosraich  ban, 
Eiamh  a  dh'  fhas  am  frith  nan  gleann, 
Sguab  an  osnach  mhillt  gu  lar 
Am  fiurain  aluin  b'airde  ceann. 
An  t-Ailpeineach  a  b'uailse  me"inn, 
Bu  mhurraich  gne  's  bu  sheimheil  beus, 
Cha  chuireadh  dain  ceud  bhard  na  Feinn, 
A  chliii  an  ceill  ge  h-ard  a  gleus. 
'S  gach  subhailc  dhearbh  e  'm  modh  a  b'aird, 
Gach  beus  a  b'aillidh,  'n  laith  a  chuairt, 
Thug  esan  barrachd  glan  air  chach, 
'S  gach  euchd  is  gras,  gniomh  sar  is  uails'. 
Sliochd  nan  treun-fhear  euchdail  cruaidh, 
Ri  gaisge  nuaireil,  buaireant  garg, 
Misneach  fhoirtidh,  bras  mar  stuaigh, 
'Nuair  bhios  an  cuan  na  uamhas  feirg. 
An  codhail  naimh-iean  la  a'  chath, 
Gun  fhianih,  gun  athadh  dol  nan  dail, 
,  Na'n  still  mar  dhealain  speur  na  phlath, 
Le  gathaibh  milltoach  tolladh  mhail. 
Cha  chualas  sgeul  an  euchdradh  shonn, 
Xan  danaibh  fhonnmhor  bhardaibh  aosd 
'Thug  barr  air  srachdan  dhaicheil  throm, 
Bha'n  Coille-chragaidh  lom  nan  laoch. 
Iain  mor  a  Chreagan  bhuail  am  beum 
Rinn  lethean  breun  de'n  trupair  chalm, 
Bha  spoltradh  fola  roimh  gach  ceum, 
'San  namh  na  eigin  roimh'n  laoch  dhalui. 
Laochraidh  uasal  bha  'san  dream, 
Teaghlach  cheutach  anns  gach  doigh, 
Dhearbh  deagh  Sheumas  anns  gach  beus, 
Gun  robh  e  fein  air  tus  a  she6rs. 
Chaill  sinn  cairid  suairce  coir, 
Caoimhneil  roideil  ris  gach  neach  ; 
Ki  gaoir  a  bhochdan  dh'eisd  air  t6s, 
Bhiodh  fuasgladh  seolt  o  laimh  mu  seach. 
Beannachd  i'heumach  mar  fhrois  shneachd, 
Le  durachd  o'n  anam  a  teachd, 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  55 

Air  toirbheartach  fial  nam  bochd, 

Nach  iinich  a  chaoidh  as  mo  bheachd. 

Tha  uaisle  is  maithean  mor  na  tir, 

Fo  mhulad  chruaidh  da  rireamh  trom, 

Gu'n  chailleadh  leo  'm  fear  comhairl'  min, 

Fear  deanamh  sith  'sna  h-uile  h-am. 

Ceann  riaghailt  a  sheasadh  dhuinn  a  choir, 

A  thilgeadh  foirneart  comhla  uainn, 

Sa  chumadh  ceartas,  glan  air  seol, 

Dan  aimbeartach  bhre6ite  thruagh. 

Cha'n  fhaicear  leinne  fad  ar  la, 

Uasal  eile  b'aghair  beus, 

An  daimh,  an  gradh  'san  gniomhra  sta, 

Mar  dheagb  Mhac  Phadruig  sar  nan  euchd. 

A  bhan-tighearn  mheasail,  mhodhail  choir, 

'S  trom  a  Ie6n  le  call  a  fir, 

Learn  is  oil  a  culaidh  bhroin, 

Tha  dubhach,  deoireach,  srolach  oirr. 

Do  uaislean  iShioin  tha  i  cinnt, 

Le  cridhe  is  inntinn  lean  i'n  t-Uan, 

Sith  dhi,  solas,  buaidh,  'us  slaint, 

O  slanuighear  as  Ian  a  chuain. 

Tha  aim  do  phobull  cumhnant  graidh  ; 

'S  le  iochd  is  baigh  ni  '11  togail  suas, 

Is  bheir  fadheoidh  gu  rioghachd  aigh, 

Bha  cinnteach  dhaibh,  o  ghabh  dhiu  truas. 

Gu'n  tachair  iad  an  tir  na  gloir, 

Se  sin  mo  dhbchas  ann  an  Dia ; 

Lan  aoibhneis,  dearbhachd,  siorruidh  beo, 

'San  du'ich  ard-oirdheirc  mar  ri'n  Triath. 

Formerly  the  Highland  Society  of  Edinburgh  was  in  the  habit 
of  offering  prizes  for  the  best  Gaelic  poems  on  some  particular  sub- 
ject. In  1857  the  subject  was  "  F6gradh  nan  Gaidheal,"  or  the 
Expatriation  of  the  Gael,  and  the  first  prize  was  awarded  to  the 
late  James  Munro,  of  Kilmonivaig,  author  of  "The  Gaelic 
Grammar,"  &c.  : — 

"  A  Mhic-talla  na  Gaidh'lteachd, 
Ciod  a's  fath  so  do'n  ghair  'tha  'sa'  Ghleann  ? 
Cluinneam  ciucharan  phaistean 
Agus  ochanaich  mha'irichean  ann ; 
Reachdraich  dhaoine  fo  amhghar, 
Caoidhrean  ogan  'us  ailleagan  fann ; — 
Learn  is  tiamhaidh  'cho'-ghairich 
'Tha  a'  taomadh  ad'  aros  's  an  am  !" 


56  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

1  Tha  thu  d'  choigreach  's  na  Gleanntaibh, 
Thir  'tha  'ceasnachadh  Seann-ghuth  nan  earn, 
No  cha  b'fhath  dhuit  'bhi  feoraich 
Ciod  a's  aobhar  do  m'  ch6'-ghair-s'  an  tra  s'  ; 
Tha  Luchd-diichais  na  tire 
'S  iad  'gam  fogairt  a  Innsibh  an  graidh  ! 
'N  diugh  tha'n  Gleann  so  'ga  sgaoileadh, — 
Agus  sin  a's  ceann-aobhair  do'n  ghair  ! 

'  'S  e  'bhi  'g  ai'ris  gach  comhraidh 
'Thig  am'  charabh  is  dogh  dhomh  o  thtis, 
Ach  tha  m'aigne  fo  dholas 
A  bhi  'g  ai'ris  air  br6n  mo  luchd-duch' ; 
Kanaich  naoidheanan  oga, 
Tursa  sheann  mhnathan  breoite  gun  siird, 
Cnead  nan  sean  fhear  fo  dh6ruinn, 
Agus  ospail  a'  chroilein  gun  lus ! 

'  Gu'n  robh  m'ath-sgal  neo-aobhaidh 
'^am  'bhi  'g  ai'ris  na  gaoire  'bha  Tuath, 
Agus  aitreibh  'gan  sgaoileadh 
'Us  an  lasair  'na  caoiribh  m'  an  stuaidh ! 
Tailmrich  shaighdear  'us  mhaora, 
Braghail  chabar  'us  thaobhan  am'  chluais, 
Donnal  chon,  mar  ri  caoineadh 
Nam  panal  falt-sgaoilte  gun  tuar! 

'  O  !  cha  b'ionann  's  na  fuaimean 
Sin  a  b'eibhinn  le  m'  chluais  ann  o  chein, — 
B'iad  ceol-maidne  nan  gruagach, 
Mar  ri  ceilearadh  bhuachaill,  mu'n  spreidh  ; 
Sgal  an  t-seannsair  'gam  ghluasad 
Agus  fathrum  na  Tuath'  'dol  gu  feum, 
Moch,  'us  ceo  mu  na  cruachaibh, 
'Us  an  dealt  air  na  bruachaibh  fo  ghrein. 

'  'Nuair  a  dhuisgeadh  an  t-Sabaid, 
Dh'  eisdinn  cliu  as  gach  fardaich  'dol  suas, 
A'  toirt  molaidh  do'n  Ard-righ, — 
Agus  dh'ai'risinn,  tlath,  air  an  fhuairn, 
'S  air  na  h-urnuighibh  diomhair 
'Dheant',  gu  h-umhlaidh,  aig  iochdar  nam  bruach, 
No  fo  sgaile  nan  craobha 
'Bhiodh  ag  aomadh  ri  taobh  nan  sruth  buan. 


Leaves  from  my  Celt/c  Portfolio.  57 

'  'S  na'm  biodh  cas  ag  cur  campair 
Air  an  Duthaich,  no  'm  Frangach  ri  atrith, 
Dh'eireadh  sluagh  as  na  Gleanntaibh 
Anns  an  am  ud,  a  chambach  mu'n  Righ, 
'S  sin  air  iarrtas  nan  uacbd'ran 
'Tha  a  nise  'gam  fuadach  a  'n  gllnn, 
Chionn,  le  Gionach  na  Buannachd, 
Gur  h-annsa  na  sluagh  leotha  M  ! 

'  Sid  dol  roinn  de  na  Triathaibh 
A  rinn  liansgradh  o'n  t-siol  a  bha  ann, 
'Meas  na  Tuath'  mar  shliochd  diolain, 
'Us  'gam  fuadach  gu  h-iargalt  o'n  rann ; 
Cha'n  eil  dldionn  no  fialachd 
Tlus  'us  ceanal  nan  riaghlar  ach  gnnn ; 
'Righ  !  cha  b'ionann  o  chian  so, 
'Nuair  bha  'Thuath.  aig  gach  Triati  mar  a  chlann. 

'  Anaghaol  s6igh  agus  mearchais, 
Mar  ri  mor-chuis  'us  aintheas  'us  prois, 
Chuir  na  Fearainn  'an  ainfhiach, 
Agus  b'eudar  an  cearbadh  air  6r ; 
'N  luchd-lagh'  'chaidh  'gan  teanchdadh, 
Mar  bu  nos,  chuir  an  anacheart  'am  moid, 
Gus  am  b'eiginn  "  na  sealbhan  " 
Uile  'mhalairt  air  airgead  na  r6ic  ! 

'  So  rinn  fasaichean  faoine, 
L6m,  gun  aiteach  gun  daoine,  's  an  Fhonn 
'San  robh  dillseachd  'us  daondachd 
Ann  an  conuidbibh  faoilidh  nan  sonn : — 
'S,  far  am  buainteadh  na  raointean, 
'S  cianail  meilich  nan  caorach  ceann-lom 
'N  ionad  dhuanagan  gaolach 
Nan  gruagach  a  b'aobhaiche  fonn  ! 

c  So  rinn  c6nard  'us  garbhlach, 
Le  ain-dlighe,  a  thoirmeasg  do  chloinn 
Sin  nan  sar-cnuraidh  garga 
'Chum  Triatha  nan  Garbh-chrioch  'nan  greim 
Le  treun-chalmachd  an  gairdean. 
'Us  nach  d'araich  aon  am  orra  foill ! — 
'S  truagh  an  diugh  leam  gu'n  d'  fhagadh 
An  iarmad  air  farsan,  gun  sgoinn  ! 


58  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

*  Ach,  na'n  t6irleamadh  Baoghal 
'Nuas,  a  bhagradh  nam  fraoch-bheann  's  nam  frith, 
Bhiodh  na  Maithean  ud  faondrach, 
'Us  an  Cabraich  's  an  Caoraich  gun  bhrigh, 
Ach  gu  16n  do  na  naimhdean 
A  ghrad-chlosnadh,  gun  taing  dhoibh,  an  Tir, 
'S  luchd  a  sheasamh  na  h-ar'aich 
('S  do'm  bu  ghnathach  buaidh-larach)  d'an  dith. 

'  Tha  mo  chlann-sa  mu'n  cuairt  domh, 
'S  tha  mi  'faotainn  sgeoil  uapa,  mar  tha 
Cuiseau  laimh-riu  a'  gluasad 
Anns  na  glinn  anns  an  dual  dhoibh  'bhi  'tamh ; 
Tha  mor-chliu  air  Triath  Chluainidh, 
Chionn  e  'ghleidheadh  an  dualchais  mar  bha, 
'S  nach  do  chuir  e  air  fuadach 
Aon  teaghlach  de'n  t-sluagh  'tha  fa  sgath. 

'  'S  ion  bhi  'g  iomradh  mar  chomhla 
Air  cliu  Mhic  an  Toisich  a'  Bhraigh, 
'S  Mhic  ic  Eoghain  nam  m6r-chruach 
Nach  do  fhogair  an  s!6igh  as  an  ait ; 
Cliu  Mhic  Shimi  na  h-Airde, 
Agus  cliu  Mhic  ic  Phadruic  tlia  sar ; — 
'S  bi'dh  am  brataich-san  laidir 
An  uair  a  bhios  failinn  air  Cach  ! 

'  'S  ion  'bhi  luaidh,  mar  an  ceudna, 
('Us  bu  diubhail  mur  eight'  e  'san  uair) 
Gu'm  bi  Comunn  na  Feile 
Comhla,  cruinn  'an  Dun-^idion  gu  luath, 
'Chumail  ciiiil  agus  &deidh 
Agus  cainnte  nan  sleibhtean  a-suas ; — 
Gu'n  robh  cliu  agus  eibhneas 
A  mhaireas  gach  r£,  dhoibh  mar  dhuais  ! ' 

The  second  prize  on  that  occasion  was  awarded  to  my  friend, 
Mr.  Farquhar  Macdonell,  then  of  Lochalsh,  and  now  of  Hawk's 
Bay.  Mr.  Macdonell's  poem  is  as  follows  : — 

'S  fior  airidh  air  beannachd  nam  bard, 

Deagh  Chomunn  nan  armunn  fial, 
A  bheothaich  gach  cleachdadh,  a's  gnaths, 

A  bha  aig  ua  Gaidheil  riamh, 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  59 

On'  's  toileach  leoth'  fhaicinn  an  dan, 

Mar  sgapadh  's  gach  cearn  an  siol, 
A  ior  mheal  mi  idir  mo  shlaint, 

Mar  cuir  mi  gun  dail  e  sios. 

Na  Gaidheil  bha  ainmeil  's  gach  linn, 

Gu  seasamh  an  righ,  's  a  choir, 
'S  trie  dhearbh  iad  le'n  armaibh  's  an  stri, 

Nach  faighte  fo  chis  an  seors  ; 
'Nam  eiridh  na  'n  eideadh  gu  grinn, 

Le  torman  nam  piob,  fc  shrol, 
'Siad  thilleadh  mar  bhuinae  na  still, 

Na  thigeadh  le  spld  na  'n  c6ir. 

Na  beathraichean  sgaiteaca  an  streup, 

A  choisneadh  le  'n  euchdan  buaidh, 
An  caismeachd  mar  thorunn  bho  'n  speur, 

'Nam  tarruing  nan  geur  lann  cruaidh ; 
B'  aigeantach,  sgairteil  an  ceum, 

A  leantuinn  an  deigh  na  ruaig, 
'S  'nuair  philleadh  iad,  'g  aithris  an  sgeul, — 

Be  'm  fasan  bhi  eibhinn,  suairc. 

Keir  naduir  's  e  thainig  mu  'n  cuairt, 

Gu'n  tliaisgeadh  's  an  uaigh  na  suinn, 
'S  cha  'n  fhaicear  an  sliochd  far  'm  bu  dual, 

Ach  aineamh  'measg  sluaigh  'theid  cruinn, 
'S  ann  lionadh  am  fearann  a  suas, 

Le  coigrich  gun  truas,  gun  suim, 
'S  gur  annsa  leo'  meilich  nan  uan, 

Na  caitliream  bho  thuath  an  fhuinn. 

Ghluais  acaid  ro  ghuineach  na  m'  chridh' ; 

'S  gur  bras  'frasadh  snithe  bho  m'  shuil, 
Ei  deachdadh  na  's  fiosrach  mi  fhin, 

Mu  tharruing  na  sgriob  bha  ciuirt, 
'Sliochd  ghaisgeach  le  achdan  g'am  binn, 

Cuir  aitreamh  mu  'n  cinn  na  sniur, 
'S  ga  'n  cartadh  a  mach  as  an  tir, 

Gun  chairid,  gun  nl,  gun  iul. 

Bu  tuirseach  am  muigh  air  an  raon, 

A  chunnaic  mi  'n  aois,  's  an  oig, 
Is,  geurad  an  acain,  's  an  gaoir, 

Cha  'n  fhaigh  mi  'o  in'  smuoin  ri  m'  bheo 


60  Gaelic  Socieiy  of  Inverness. 

Gun  dachaidh,  gun  fhasgadh  bho  ghaoith, 
Ach  tional  an  taobh  nam  frog, 

'Se  b'eiginn  bhi  gabhail  mu  sgaoil, 
'Sa  fagail  nan  caol  fo  she61. 

Is  furasd'  a  thuigsinn,  's  gur  cinnt, 

Na  th'  again  ri  inns'  na  m'  sgeul, 
Gur  lionmhoir  trioblaid,  a  's  teinn, 

A  choinnich  riuth'  'n  tiribh  c£in ; 
Ge  b'  fheudar  dboibh  dealach'  ri'n  glinn, 

Tha  pairt  dheth  an  cridh'  na  'n  deigh, 
'S  ged  charnadh  iad  airgead  na  mbill, 

Cha  leighis  e  mlr  dbeth  'n  creuchd. 

O'n  threig  iad  gach  fireach,  a's  gleann, 

Cha  'n  fhaicear,  ach  Gall 's  gach.  cull 
Am  fochair  a  chaoirich  gu  tranng, 

'Se  cleachdadh  a  chainnt  r'  a  chu, 
Le  bhreacan  air  fhilleadh  m'  a  cheann, 

Is  caogad  car  cam  na  ruin, 
'S  gur  fhearr  leis  an  t-anam  a  chall, 

Na.  riobag  bhi  gann  do  rusg. 

O'n  dh  'imich  na  gaisgich  thar  chuan, 

Cha  'n  eisdear  leinn  duan,  no  ceol, 
Cha  chluinnear  caomh  chailin  gu  suairc 

Ei  luinneag  aig  buar  mu  chro ; 
Cha  *n  fhaicear  na  fleasgaich  bu  dual, 

A'  siubhal  gu  ruag  fir  chrbchd, 
Am  beagan  dhiubh  sud  nach  do  ghluais 

'Se  th'  orra  'n  diugh  tuar  a  bhroin. 

Gun  d'  fhagadh  Mac-talla  fo  phramh, 

'S  gach  ionad  'n  robh  abhaist  riamh, 
'S  ann  tha  e  air  leabaidh  ri  bas, 

A'  cumhadh  nan  sar  f  hear  fial 
A  chumadh  e  'n  cleachdadh  gach  la, 

'S  do  'n  d'  thug  e  a  ghradh,  's  a  mhiagh  ; 
Cha  'n  fhiu  leis  an  dream  tha  na  'n  ait, 

Cha  toir  e  a  'n  cannran  cial. 

Ged  shiubhlainn  bho  Ghearr-loch  an  fhe6ir, 
Gu'n  ruiginn  an  t-Oban  ciar, 

Cha  'n  fhaicinn  Ceann-tighe  air  fh6d, 
A  dh'fhuirich  do  plior  nan  Triath ; 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  61 

An  atte  nan  leoghann  bha  c6ir, 

'Se  th'ann  an  diugh  seorsa  fiat, 
Airson  drochart  's  airgead  na  spoig, 

A  thilgeas  &  c6ir  an  siad. 

B'e  fasan,  a's  aiteas  nan  Triath, 

Bha  barraich'  am  miagh  'am  muirn, 
Bhi  fuileachdach,  calgach  na  'n  triall 

A  leantuinn  nam  fiadh  's  an  stiichd  ; 
Bhi  sachd'adh  an  gillean  le  h-iasg, 

'S  toirt  bhradan  air  fiar  gu  dluth  ; 
Bhi  oranach,  coranach,  gle  fhial, 

'Nam  tional  nan  cliar  gu  'n  Duin. 

'S  '11  am  b'  fheudar  dhoibh  tachairt  's  an  ar, 

Cha  ghabhadh  iad  sgath  na  gruaim, 
Bha  fir  ac'  a  sheasadh  an  cas, 

'Sa  rachadh  nam  pairt  le  h-uaill, 
Na  milidhnean  colgarra,  dan  ; 

A  dheanadh  le  'n  strachdan  smuais, 
'S  a  ghleidheadh  an  reachdan  bho  thair, 

Le  iomairt  nan  staillinn  fuar. 

Ach  's  mithich  bhi  criochn'adh  mo  dhain, 

Le  focal  no  dhk  chuir  sios, — 
Mo  shoraidh,  le  durachd  mo  ghraidh, 

A  dh'ionnsaidh  gach  Gaidheal  fior, 
'Se  m'  aiteas  gu'm  bi  iad  a  fas, 

An  urram,  's  an  stath  gach  ial, 
'S  gu'n  tionail  iad  fathast  gu  'n  ait, 

'Sgu'n  sgapar  a  chath  roimh  'n  t-siol. 

The  following  poem  on  the  "  briogais  "  appears  to  have  been 
composed  at  the  time  when  the  Garb  of  Old  Gaul  was  proscribed  to 
the  Highlander.  It  is  said  to  be  the  composition  of  a  gentleman 
of  Lochaber.  The  old  Highlander  and  a  stag — "  Fear  nan  cabar  " — 
meet  one  day  on  the  hill,  and  commence  a  dialogue — the  hunter 
condemning  the  breeks.  The  stag,  however,  has  a  different 
appreciation  of  that  garmenture,  for  in  it  he  sees  an  obstacle  to 
the  annoyance  of  his  species — as  it  rendered  the  hunter's  locomo- 
tion difficult : — 

Moch  's  mi  'g  eirigh  anns  a'  mhadainn, 

Gu  h-airtealach,  pramhail, 
A'  direadh  a  inach  ris  a'  mhonadh, 

Gur  muladach  a  ta  mi ; 


62  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Gun  bhi  's  an  eideadh  a  chleackd  mi, 

Ach  mar  bhaigear  Gallda, 
Cha  'n  aithnich  uiread  nam  fiadh  nii, 

'S  fiadhaich  leo  a  dh'  fhas  mi. 

Ach  so  mar  labhair  fear  nan  cabar — 
"  Stad  air  t-ais  mar  tha  thu, 
A  Naille  bheirinns'  ort  comhaiiT, 

Mar  choimhearsnach  cairdeil, 
B'  fhearr  dhut  fuireach  aig  a'  bhaile, 

'S  aire  thoirt  air  do  phaistean, 
Na  bhi  'n  duil  gu  meall  thu  mise, 

Le  d'  bhriogais — mo  naire  ! " 

"  Ge  ro  mhath  'n  t-eideadh  a  bhriogais, 

Cha  b'  i  sud  a  b'  fhearr  learn, 
'S  mor  gu'm  b'  annsa  'm  feileadh  preasach, 

Gu  deas  air  a  charadh ; 
Chunnaic  thusa  sud  orm  roimhe, 

Ge  coimheach  an  drast'  thu  ; 
'S  trie  a  thachair  sinn  air  fuaran, 

Shuas  ud  inu  bheinn  Allair." 

"  Gur  diombach  mi  air  a'  chomhradh, 

Ge  boidheach  do  chainnt  ann, 
'S  gur  buidhiche  mi  air  High  Deorsa, 

Dh'  fhag  fo  bhron  's  an  am  thu, 
Gu'n  do  bhreacan  bhi  air  d'  uachdar, 

'Chumail  fuachd  nam  beann  diot, 
Ach  slaodaire  dubh  de  chasaig, 

Am  pasgadh  mu  d'  bhraghad." 

"  Na'ni  faighinn  s'  thus  agus  Deorsa, 

C6mhlath  fo'n  aon  lamhaich, 
'S  na  tha  dhaoine  mor  's  an  rioghachd, 

A  bha  diteadh  Thearlaich, 
Gar  <m  loisginn  sre.d  air  dhisnean, 

Ach  mo  shith  a  bhi  'm  Paras, 
Kaille  bhuilichinn  mo  phearsa, 

Ei  cur  as  duibh  'm  maireach." 

"  Cha  'n  fhaigh  thu  sinne  le  cheile, 
Anns  a'  bheinn  fo  d'  lamhaich, 
'S  ma  chluinnear  gu'm  beil  thu  fein  ann, 
Theid  d'  eigheachd  'n  ad  mheairleach ; 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  63 

Ach  na  'm  b'  aithne  dhomh's  an  rathad 

Eachainn  do  Bhruaich  Mairi, 
'Dh'  innse  gu'm  beil  gunna  's  breacan, 

Agad  's  air  an  airidh." 

"  Air  lamh  do  mhathar  's  a  ghealtair, 

Ge  ladurna  dan  thu, 
Ma  leigeas  mi  riut  mo  chuilean, 

Cha  'n  urrainn  thu  fhagail " — 
Leig  mi  'n  eighe  ris  a'  ghille, 

'S  leig  e  'n  Eibheis  bhan  ris, 
'S  cha  do  mheall  i  mi  'n  am  bharail, 

Ghrad  chuir  i  gu  bas  e. 


The  following  lullaby  will  be  of  interest  to  all  who  know  Glen- 
garry. It  is  said  that  it  was  adduced  as  evidence  in  favour  of  one 
of  the  Glengarry's,  who  had  some  litigation  with  Cameron  of 
Lochiel : — 

Eun  fearan,  gaol  fearan, 
Eun  fearan  a  bh'ann, 
Aonghais  oig  o  Bhun-Garaidh, 
'S  rioghail,  fearail  do  dhreann. 

Eun  fearan,  &c. 

Aonghais  oig  o  Bhun-Garaidh, 

'S  rioghail,  fearail  do  ghreann 

'S  leat  do  chinneadh  mor,  meadhrach 

'S  leat  Gleadhrach  nam  beann. 

Run  fearan,  &c. 

'S  leat  do  chinneadh  mor,  meadhrach, 
'S  leat  Gleadhrach  nam  beann, 
'S  leat  islean  is  uaislean, 
'S  leat  Cuaich  o  da  cheann. 

Eun  fearan,  &c. 

'S  leat  islean  is  uaislean, 
'S  leat  Cuaich  o  da  cheann, 
Mar  sid  's  an  t-Sail-chaorain, 
'S  Coire-fhraoich  nan  damh  seang. 

Eun  fearan,  &c. 


6 4  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

Mar  sid  's  an  t-Sail-chaorain, 
'S  Coire-fhraoich  nan  damh  seang, 
'S  tu  Ceann-cinnidh  Chlann  Donuil, 
'S  leat  Cnoideart  nam  beaan. 

Kun  fearan,  &c. 

The  following  poem — "  An  Gleann  's  an  robh  mi  6g  " — by 
Neil  MacLeod,  of  Edinburgh,  son  of  Donald  MacLeod,  the  Skye 
Bard,  deserves  a  high  place  in  the  poetry  of  the  Gael.  Mr.  MacLeod 
sings  it  to  the  well-known  Scottish  air,  "  When  the  Kye  come 
hame"  : — 

'N  uair  philleas  ruinn  an  samhradh, 
Bi'dh  gach  doire  's  crann  fo  chroic, 
Na  h-eoin  air  bharr  nam  meanglan, 
Deanamh  caithream  bhinn  le'n  ceol, 
A'  chlarm  bheag  a'  ruith  le  fonn, 
Mu  gach  torn  a"  buain  nan  ros ; 
B'e  mo  mhianu  a  bhi  'san  am  sin, 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  mi  og. 

Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  nii  og, 

Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  mi  og, 
B'e  mo  mhiann  a  bhi  'san  am  sin, 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  mi  og. 

'Sa  mhaduinn  'n  am  dhuinn  dusgadh, 
Bhiodh  an  driuchd  air  bharr  an  fheoir, 
A1  chuthag  as  gu-gug  aic', 
Ann  an  coire  dluth  nan  cno, 
Na  laoigh  og  a'  leum  le  sunnd, 
'Sa  cur  smuiil  air  feadh  nan  Ion, 
Ach  cha'n  fhaicir  sin  'san  am  so, 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  mi  og. 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh,  &c. 

'N  am  an  tional  do  na  bhuailidh, 
B'e  mo  luaidh  a  bhi  na'n  coir  ; 
Bhiodh  a  duanag  aig  gach  guanaig, 
Agus  cuach  aice  na  dorn, 
Bhiodh  Mactalla  freagairt  shuas — 
E  ri  aithris  f  laim  a  beoil — 
Ach  cha  chluinnear  sin  'san  am  so 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  mi  og. 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  65 

Ann  an  dubhlachd  gharbh  a'  gheamhraidh, 
Cha  b'e  am  bu  ghainn'  ar  spors — 
Greis  air  sugradh,  greis  air  dannsadh 
Greis  air  cainntearachd  a's  ceol ; 
Bhiodh  gach  seanair  aosmhor,  liath, 
'G  innseadh  sgialachdan  gun  gho 
Air  gach  gaisgeach  fearail,  greannmhor 
Bha  's  a'  ghleann  'n  uair  bha  iad  og. 
Bha  's  a'  ghleann  'n  uair  bha,  &c. 

Bha  de  sholas  dhe  gach  seors'  ann, 
'Chumadh  oigridh  ann  am  fonn, 
Cha  robh  uisge,  muir,  no  mointeach 
Air  an  comhdach  bho  ar  bonn ; 
Ach  an  diugh  tha  maor  a's  lann 
Air  gach  alltan  agus  6b  ; 
Cha'n  'eil  saorsa  sruth  nam  beanntan 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  mi  og. 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh,  &c. 

Tha  na  fardaichean  'n  am  fasaich, 
Far  an  d'araicheadh  na  seoid, 
Far  'm  bu  chridheil  fuaim  an  gaire, 
Far  'm  bu  chairdeil  iad  mu'n  bhord ; 
Far  am  faigheadh  coigreach  baigh, 
Agus  anrach  bochd  a  16n, 
Ach  cha'n  fhaigh  iad  sin  'san  am  so, 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  mi  og. 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh,  &c. 

Chaochail  maduinn  ait  ar  n-oige, 
Mar  an  ceo  air  bharr  nam  beann, 
Tha  ar  cairdean  a's  luchd-eolais, 
Air  am  fogradh  bhos  a's  thall ; 
Tha  cuid  eile  dhiubh  nach  gluais 
'Tha  na'n  cadal  buan  fo  'n  fh6d, 
Bha  gun  uaill,  gun  fhuath,  gun  ann-tlachd, 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  iad  og. 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh,  &c. 

Mo  shoraidh  leis  gach  cuairteig, 
Leis  gach  bruachag  agm  cos, 
Mu'n  trie  an  rob  i  mi  cluaineis, 
'N  am  bhi  buachailleachd  nam  bo ; 


66  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'N  uair  a  thig  mo  reis  gu  ceann, 
Agus  feasgar  fann  mo  lo, 
B'e  mo  mhiann  a  bhi  'san  am  sin 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh  mi  og. 
Anns  a'  ghleann  'san  robh,  &c. 

Such  of  you  as  have  read  the  poetical  works  of  Eobert  Nicol 
may  remember  one  breathing  similar  sentiments,  viz.,  "  The  Toun 
where  I  was  Born."  Nicol  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  Tay,  in 
Perthshire,  in  1814  ;  Macleod  was  born  and  brought  up  in  the 
"  Isle  of  Mist."  It  was  the  lot  of  both  to  leave  the  home  of  their 
youth  and  work  for  their  bread  in  the  south  ;  but  wherever  they 
roamed  thoughts  of  home  kindled  the  poetic  flame  within  their 
bosoms.  Macleod,  who  still  sings,  composed  the  foregoing  in  his 
native  Gaelic ;  Nicol,  who  was  cut  away  in  his  24th  year,  com- 
posed the  following,  which,  I  think,  I  am  justified  in  quoting  as  a 
companion  poem : — 

The  loch  where  first  the  stream  doth  rise 

Is  bonniest  to  my  e'e ; 
An'  yon  auld-warld  hame  o'  youth 

Is  dearest  aye  to  me. 
My  heart  wi'  joy  may  up  be  heez'd, 

Or  down  wi'  sorrow  worn, 
But  0  it  never  can  forget 

The  toun  where  I  was  born. 

The  lowly  names  beside  the  burn, 

Where  happy  hearts  were  growin' ; 
The  peasant  huts  where,  purely  bright, 

The  light  o'  love  was  fiowin' ; 
The  wee  bit  glebes  where  honest  men 

Were  toilin'  e'en  an'  morn — 
Are  a'  before  me  when  I  mind 

The  toun  where  I  was  born. 

0,  there  were  bonnie  faces  there, 

An'  hearts  baith  high  an'  warm, 
That  neebors  lov'd,  an'  strained  fu'  sair 

To  keep  a  friend  frae  harm. 
Nae  wealth  had  they ;  but  something  still 

They  spared  when  ane  forlorn, 
The  puir  auld  beggar  bodies,  ca'd, 

The  toun  where  I  was  born. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  67 

The  grey  auld  man  was  honoured  there, 

The  matron's  words  were  cherished, 
An'  honesty  in  youthfu'  hearts 

By  age's  words  was  nourished. 
An'  tho'  e'en  there  we  cudna  get 

The  rose  without  the  thorn, 
It  was  a  happy,  happy  place, 

The  toun  where  I  was  born. 

Yon  heather-theekit  hames  were  blithe 

When  winter  nights  were  lang, 
Wi'  spinning  wheels,  an'  jokin'  lads, 

An'  ilka  lassie's  sang. 
At  Hansel-Monday  we  had  mirth, 

An'  when  the  hairst  was  shorn 
The  maidens  cam' — 'twas  cheerfu'  aye, 

The  toun  where  I  was  born. 

I  maist  could  greet,  I  am  sae  wae — 

The  very  wa's  are  gane — 
The  autumn-shilfa  situ  and  chirps 

Upon  ilk  cauld  hearthstane. 
Ae  auld  aiktree,  or  may  be  twa, 

Amang  the  wavin'  corn, 
Is  a'  the  mark  that  time  has  left 

0'  the  toun  where  I  was  born. 

The  following  has  been  contributed  by  Mr.  Alexander  A.  Car- 
michael,  Inland  Revenue  Officer  in  the  Long  Island — a  gentleman 
who  is,  perhaps,  better  versed  in  the  old  poetry  and  lore  of  the 
Outer  Hebrides  than  any  other  now  living.  Mr.  Carmichael  con- 
siders "  Na  h-Iollaireann  "  "  a  veritable  Arthurian  ballad,"  which 
ought  to  be  prized  for  its  rarity.  "  The  version  with  the  chorus," 
he  says,  "  is  sung  by  women  while  fulling  cloth  ;  the  other  is  sung 
by  men.  These  two  versions  seem  to  me  to  differ  so  considerably 
as  to  look  like  two  separate  ballads  upon  the  same  subject,  rather 
than  two  separate  versions  of  the  same  ballad."  I  will  quote  the 
two  versions  as  they  came  into  my  hands,  with  Mr.  Carmichael's 
notes  and  explanations  : — 

NA   H-IOLLAIREANN. 

Bho  Mhairi  Nic  an  Liallain  (nee  Donullach)  bean  Alastair  'ic  an 
Liallain,  craoitear,  Saighearaidh,  Uiste  Tuath,  22nd  Oct.,  1868, 
Aois  44. 


68  Gaelic  Socieiy  of  Inverness. 

(Oran  luadluddh.) 

lollaireann  'us  o  ro  i 

An  t-aobhar  mu  'n  taine  mi  steach 
lollair  o  an  orach  o. 

Ni  mi  e  mu  'n  teid  mi  mach, 
lollaireann  us  o  ro  i, 

La  chai  Arstar  nan  sluagh, 

lollair  orach  o'no  ro 
Gu  tulach  nani  buadh  a  shealg 
Chunnacas  a  tighinn  o'n  mhuir, 
Gruagach  is  ailli  cruth  fo'n  ghrein, 
Cruit  an  laimh  na  h-iiieghil  uir, 

Ga  glan  a  gnuis  's  ro-maith  gne, 
Aig  feothas  dha  na  sheinn  i  'n  ceol, 
Gu'n  thuit  an  Righ  le  (a)  suain, 
Nuair  a  dhuisg  e  as  a  shuain 
Thug  e  lamh  gu  luath  eir  arm. 
A  bhean  sin  a  sheinn  an  ceol, 
Nach  facas  a  beo  no  'marbh. 

Dh'imich  e  fhe'  'sa  ghille  'sa  chu, 
Eir  luing  uir  a  bhreid-ghil  bhain, 
Far  sheac  seacuinean  'as  tri  rnios, 
Bha  thu  sgith  ri  siubhk  cuain, 
Mu  'n  d'fhuair  thu  cala  no  fonn, 
Anns  an  ga'adh  an  long  tamh. 

Chunnacas  an  iomal  a'  chuain 
Caisteal  min-gheal  buidheach  (i.e.,  boidheach)  gorm 
Uinneagan  glain  eir  a  stuaigh, 
Bu  lionar  ann  cuach  'us  corn. 
'Sa  ghruagach  a  sheinn  an  ceol, 
An  cathair  an  or  is  taigh, 
Strefon  sioda  fo  da  bhonn ; 
Bheannaich  mise  ga  gnuis  ghil. 
'Sann  agam  fhein  a  bha  'n  long, 
Is  luaith  a  chuir  tonn  a  deigh, 
'Sann  agara  fhein  a  bha  'n  cu 
Is  luaith  a  chuir  a  shuil  a  (n)  seilg, 
Sann  agam  fhein  a  bha  'n  t-each 
Is  luaith  a  chuir  a  chas  eir  f  eur, 
'S  ann  agam  fhein  a  bha  bhean 
Is  deirge  leac  's  is  gile  deud, 

Na  bheannaich  thu  bria'ras  fhir 
Struagh  an  cion  thug  thu  thar  tuinn 
Eir  a-laimhsa  a  ni'  bhan 


Leaves  from  my  Geltic  Portfolio.  69 

Is  coma  liom  do  ghradh  is  d'fhuath 
Dianamaid  bruithinn  'us  traoghamid  fearg 
Us  cuireamaid  cealg  mu  'n  f  hear  mhor. 
Gu  de  mar  a  ni  thu  sin 
'S  nach  thu  laoch  is  fearr  fo'n  ghrein? 
Cha  lais  teine,  's  cha  dearg  arm  eir  an  fhear 
Ach  a  chlai  geur  glan  fhein. 
Gun  ghoid  mi  'n  clai  bho  shlios 
Thug  mi  dheth  gu'n  fhios  an  ceann. 

Ogain  ors  ise  thainig  o'n  lear 
0'  sann  leat  a  chuireadh  an  t-euc. 
Innis  eir  thoiseach  do  sgeul 
Co  thu  fein  no  de  d'  ainm. 
Mise  Boine  Boidheach  na'm  iiath, 
Agam  a  tha  teac  do  sgeul 
Ma's  ail  leat  mise  bhi  leat, 
Treachaid  leac  a  (do)  mhac  Eigh  Greig, 
Treachaid  leac  eir  ailios  mna 
Be  siod  obair  fir  gun  cheil, 
Gu'n  ghearr  i  leum  as  (anns)  an  lie, 
A  bhean  ghlic  bu  ro-ghlan  snuagh. 

A  Dhun-duigh  sin  sa  Dhun-duigh, 
A  Ghrianain  aluinn  fad  o'n  mhuir, 
Gur  moch  a  ghoireas  a  chuach 
Eir  a  ghualainsa  Dhun-duigh. 
Sin  agaibh  deire  mo  sgeil, 
'S  mar  a  chuala  mi  o  thus. 

Bho  Fionnaghal  Me  Leoid  ("  Fionnaghal  ni'  Chalum  ")  coitear, 
Bailesear,  Uist  Tua,  23  Mart,  1869.— Aois  67. 

"  Gu  de  bh'  anu  a  ghrai,  ach  ban-drui'ear  bho  chionn  fhad  an 
t-saoghal,  agus  ghabh  i  gaol  eir  oganach  eireacail  uasal.  Agus  de 
ach  a  thainig  i  thun  an  righ  na  chadal  agus  bha  i  comhradh  'sa 
conaltradh  ris  fad  na  h-oidhche.  Dh'innis  an  Righ  anns  a  mhaduin 
an  t-ailleagan  mna  'chum  conaltradh  na  h-oidhche  ris,  agus  gu'm  b' 
fearr  leis  nan  saoghal  mu  'n  ia  ghrian  gu'm  faiceadh  e  rist  i.  Thairg 
an  gaisgeach  og  a  bh'  ann  a  so  falbh  eir  a  toir  agus  nach  tilleadh  e 
gus  am  faigheadh  e  i  ga  d  a  ruigeadh  e  cul  an  t-saoghail.  Dh'falbh 
e  's  bha  e  bliannaichean  eir  falbh  eir  a  toir,  agus  chunaig  e  sin  teach, 
(taigh,  mar  a  thuigeas  sibh)  a->n  an  aigeal  a'  chuain.  '  Ann  an  aigeal 
a  chuain  !  '  '  Ann  an  aigeal  a  chuain  a  ghrai !'  Ho  !  nach  robh 
na  bana-bhuitsichean  'a  na  ban-druiearaii  'ad  coma  cait  am  bitheadh 
'ad — bu  choingeis  leo  muir  no  tir.  Dhianadh  'ad  taigh  mar  an 
fhaoileag  (an  ruideag — the  kittiawake)  ann  an  aodau  na  staca  's 


70  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

aird  an  lort.  'S  ann  a  sin  a  bha  'n  caisteal  ann  am  meadhon  a 
chuain  Ian  innsridh  oir  us  airgid,  strolta  an  t-sioda  fodha  'uc,  fo  's  a 
chionn,  agus  am  boirionnach  a  sheinn  an  ceol  dha'n  High  'na  suidhe 
ann  an  '  seur '  (chair)  (cathair)  oir  agus  streafon  (carpet )  sioda  fo' 
'casun ;  sladhraidhnean  loinnearach  oir  'us  airgid  eir  cl  onaibh 
agus  sleaghunn  agus  clai'-nean  caola  cruadhach  fionntrain  (bronze) 
ri  'fraoithibh  (walls)." 

A  Dhun-duigh  sin,  'sa  Dhun-duigh  ! 

lollair  o'  an  orach  o, 
A  ghrian  aluinn  fad  o'n  mhuir 

lollaireann  us  o  ro  i. 
Ga  (fe !)  mocb  a  ghoireas  a'  chuach 
Eir  a  bhuachaille  Dhun-duigh. 

La  chai  Arstar  mac  Eigh  nan  sluagh 
lollair  n'an  orach  o 
lollaireann  us  oro  i 


Eir  tulach  nam  buadh,  nan  ruadh,  a  shealg, 

Chunnacas  a  ti'nn  o'n  mhuir, 

Gruagach  a  b'  ailli  cruth  na  ghrian. 

Cruit  an  laimh  na  h-inibhin  oig 

Is  milse  pog  's  is  geal  deud. 

Aig  fheothas  's  a  sheinn  i  chruit 

Gu'n  thait  an  righ  na  shuain  seimh, 

Co  math  's  ga  na  sheinn  i  chruit 

B'  fhearr  na  puirt  a  thug  i  le. 

'Nuair  dhuisg  an  Eigh  as  a  shuain 
(Ochadan  !  an  cadal  truagh) 
Bha  ghruagach  a  sheinn  an  ceol 
Gu'n  fhios  co  e  'beo  no  'marbh. 

Labhair  Fios  Falaich  gu  fial 
Theid  mi  fhein  ga  h-iarraidh  dhuit — 
Mi  fhi  's  mo  ghille  's  mo  'chu — 
An  triuir  a  shire  na  mna. 

Ghluais  e  fhe  le  ghille  's  le  'chu 
Gu  long  ur  a  bhreid  ghil  bhain 
Bha  i  seac  raithean  air  muir 
Mum  facas  'ad  fearunn  no  fonn, 
No  ait  an  ga'adh  an  long  tamh. 
Chunnaig  ad  an  aigeal  a'  chuain 
Caisteal  buir'each  min'gheal  gorm ; 
bhi  teurnadh  gu  'bhun 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  71 

Thainig  slabhrai  dhubh  a  nuas. 

Eagal  cha  d'  gha  e  no  crith, 

Ghabh  e  oirre  na  ruith  suas. 

Bha  ghruagach  a  sheinn  an  ceol 

An  cathair  an  oir  is  taigh ; 

Streafon  an  t-sioda  fo  bonn ; 

Bheannaich  mise  ga  gnuis  gb.il. 

Na  bheannaich  Dia  thu  fhir 

'S  mor  an  cion  thug  thu  that  tuinn 

Chul  nan  cleac  bu  gheal  a  snuagh ; 

Bha  cu  an  taca  ri  eir  eill 

Eir  a  dhiana  le  sheuda  buadh 

Bha  spuir  oir  eir  a  chois  dheis 

'S  bha  spuir  eil  eir  a'  chois  chli — 

Bha  spuir  eil  eir  a  chois  chli 

A  dh-airgiod  righ  'sa  dh-6r  feall 

Dianamid  suidhe  's  traoghamid  fearg 

'S  cuireamaid  cealg  mu'n  f  hear  mhor. 
Ciamar  a  ni  thu  sin 

Ged  bu  tu  laoch  is  fearr  fo'n  ghrein 

'S  nach  loisg  tein  eir  's  nach  dearg  arm 

Ach  a  chlai  geur  fo  'shlios  1 

Ghoid  'ad  an  clai  fo'  shlios 

Bhoin  'ad  dheth  gu'n  fhios  ann  ceann. 

Ma's  math  leat  mis  a  bhuin  leat, 

Innis  dhomh  beac  co  thu  fein. 

'S  mi  Boine  Bo' each  nam  flath, 

Cheud  mhac  a  bh'  aig  Righ  Fraing, 
Ma's  math  leat  mis  a  bhuin  leat 
Treachaid  leac  a  mhac  Kigh  Greuig 
Cladhaich  an  uaigh  as  a  til  (as  an  dil)* 
'S  bi  siod  obair  fir  gu'n  cheil 
Thug  ise  dudar  leum  dha'n  lie 
'S  dh'  falbh  an  t-anam  na  ceo  as  (aiste  ?) 


Bho,  Mai'read  (Maireiread)  Dhomhnullach  ("  Mai'read  nighean 
Aonais  Duinn  ")  Geari  Iain  Malachit,  10th  Feb.,  1870,  Aois  83. 

'Jtfoiche  chai  Arstar  nan  Sluagh 
Gu  tulach  nan  ruadh,  nam  buadh  a  shealg, 
Chunnacas  a  teurnadh  o'n  mhagh 
Gruagach  a  b'ailli  cruth  na  ghrian 

*Dil  no  til  seems  to  be  the  root  of  dilionn,  the  earth  world,  also  that  which  is 
embedded  in  the  earth  and  down  beneath  the  surface. 


72  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'S  cruit  an  laimh  na  h-inghinn  oig 

'S  mills  pog  's  as  geal  gne, 

'S  co  binn  's  ga  na  sheinn  i  chruit 

'S  binne  na  puirt  a  leig  i  leo ; 

'S  ann  le  fuaim  a  teuduc  binn 

A  chaidil  an  Eigh  na  throm  seimh.     .     .     . 

Mu'n  ghruagach  a  sheinn  an  ceol 

Nach  facas  i  beo  no  marbh 

Thuirt  Eigh  Sola  ri  Eigh  Fial     .     .     . 

Le  'm  long  bhriagh  bhreid  gheal  bhain.     .     . 

Far  an  ga'adh  mo  long  gu  tir 
Chunnacas  an  oiteal  dhe  'n  chuan 
Clach  fhuar  a  fiollairean  gonn     .     .     . 
Far  am  bu  lionar  cuach  agus  cuirm 
An  aisirghalla  (1  Bha  Sior  Ghallabha)  na  bhun 
'S  bha  slabhrai  dhubh  as  a  nuas 
Sin  an  t-slabhrai  nach  do  gha  crith 
'S  thog  i  easan  na  ruith  suas. 
Bheil  fear  na  creige  so  slan 
An  d'  idir  e  cas  no  truas  ? 
Cuis  is  f  haide  Horn  nach  lig 
No  corag  dhianainn  ris  gu  luath     .     .     . 
Cuireamaid  cealg  mu  'n  fhear  mhor 
Ciamar  a  ni  thu  sin     .     .    ' -JJ  ' 
Cha  loisg  teine  e  's  cha  dearg  arm  eir  an  fhear 
Ach  a  chlai  geur  geala-ghlan  fhein. 
Gold  thus  an  clai  dhe  'n  fhear 
'S  ann  a  bheir  thu  dheth  an  ceann 
'S  carpet  sioda  fo  da  bhonn 
'S  na  bheannaich  a  Ni  thu  fhir  (i.e.,  Nimath) 
'S  trom  an  cion  thug  thu  eir  tuinn ; 
Chunnacas  an  deigh  ti'nn  o'n  mhuir 
Oganach  eir  ghuin  le  airm 
Bha  spuir  oir  eir  a  chois  dheis 
'S  bu  leoir  a  dheiseac  'sa  dhealbh  ; 
'S  bha  spuir  eil  eir  a  chois  chli 
Do  dh-airgiod  righ  no  dh-or  feall. 
Thug  mi  leum  a  chum  na  spuir 
De  ma  thug  cha  bu  mhath  a  chiall. 
Thug  easun  glacadh  eir  arm 
'S  e  'm  fear  marbh  a  bhi  na  niall  (vicinity). 
'S  ann  agam  a  nist  tha  bhean 
Is  deirge  leac  ? 
'S  ann  fotham  a  bhios  an  t-each 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  73 

Is  luaith  a  chuir  a  chas  eir  feill  (?  feur) 

'S  ann  mu  'm  chois  a  bhios  an  cu 

Is  luath  a  chuir  a  shuil  an  sealg. 

'S  ann  Horn  dh-falbhas  an  long, 

Is  luaith  a  chuire  idh  tonn  as  a  deigh, 

Marcach  na  fairgu  gu  dian, 

Falaireac*  an  drcim  a  chuain. 

Bha  'n  truir  bhraithse  mu  cheann  na  mne. 

Sin  mar  a  mharciaich  mi  'n  t-each 

Bu  luaithe  's  bu  reacar  ceum. 

Nach  ruig  sibh  Corra-ri-clach 

Far  am  faigh  sibh  beac  mo  sgeul, 

Gu  slia  sli'un  nara  briara  ceart 

Far  nach  ga'tar  ceart  truas, 

Siod  a  cheist  a  chuirinn  orst. 

Brath  do  shloine  no  co  d'ainm, 

Mis  an  currai  nach  do  gha  cosg, 

A  chiad  mhac  a  bh'  aig  High  Fraing, 

Liom  a  thuiteas  clann  Kigh  Greig, 

O  mharbh  'ad  fhein  an  treas  fear, 

Mus  mail  leat  mise  thoirt  leat 

Treachaid  leac  Chlann  Kigh  Greig, 

Sin  'nuair  a  threachaid  mi  'n  leac, 

Gle  fharsuin  mar  b'ail  le  'fein. 

Cladhaich  an  uaigh  as  a  dil. 

O  si  obair  fir  gu'n  cheilL 

Thug  ise  leum  as  an  lie, 

'S  i  bhean  ghlic  bu  ro-ghlan  snua. 

'S  leum  an  t-anam  as  a  corp  ; 

Ochadan  a  nochd  gur  truagh, 

Ka'm  biodh  agams  'an  sin  leigh 

Gu'n  cuirinn  e  gu  feum  'san  uair  ; 

Dhianainn  t-ath-bheothachadh  triuir, 

Cha  'n  fbagainn  mo  run  san  uaigh, 

'S  i  nighean  Eigh  Cholla  ghrinn,t 

A  chinnich  leinn  's  bu  mhor  am  beud 

*  Falaire,  steed  (Steud)  seems  equivalent  to  "  turf -cutter,"  a  term  applied  to 
a  fast  trotting  horse,  more  especially  to  the  Arabian  horse,  I  think,  which  tl  rows 
his  feet  forward  so  close  to  the  ground  that  it  cuts  the  grass.     Fal  is  turf.     Is 
this  term  again  allied  to  palfrey  ? 
t  High  Cholla  Ghrinn— King  Colla. 

Old  King  Coll  was  a  jolly  old  soul, 
Neither  read  nor  write  could  he  ; 
For  to  read  or  to  write  he  thought  useless  quite, 
For  he  kept  a  secretarie. — Old  Song. 


74  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Mis  an  currai  nach  do  gha  cosg, 

A  chiad  mhac  a  bh'  aig  Kigh  Fraing.* 

Sin  deire  mo  sgeoil, 

'S  mar  a  sheinn  'ad  am  Bron  Binn. 


TTH  JANUAEY,  1880. 

A  meeting  was  held  on  this  date,  at  which  the  arrangements  for 
the  Annual  Dinner  of  the  Society  were  completed. 

EIGHTH  ANNUAL  DINNER. 

The  Eighth  Annual  Dinner  of  the  Society  was  held  in  the 
Waverley  Hotel — Mr.  Lachlan  Macdonald  of  Skaebost,  Chief  of 
the  Society,  occupying  the  chair.  He  was  supported  on  the  right 
by  Sir  Kenneth  S.  Mackenzie  of  Gairloch,  Bart.,  and  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Bisset,  Stratherrick ;  and  on  the  left  by  Captain  Chisholm,  Glass- 
burn,  and  Captain  Scobie,  Mid-Fearn.  The  vice-chairmen  were 
Mr.  Wm.  Jolly,  ELM.  Inspector  of  Schools,  and  Mr.  Alex.  Eoss, 
architect.  Among  those  present  were — Captain  Grant,  of  the  Royal 
Tartan  Warehouse ;  Mr.  Andrew  Macdonald,  solicitor ;  Mr.  Wm. 
Mackay,  solicitor ;  Mr.  G.  J.  Campbell,  solicitor ;  Dr.  F.  M.  Mac- 
kenzie, Inverness ;  Mr.  James  Barron,  Bank  Street ;  Mr.  A. 
Mackenzie,  of  the  Celtic  Magazine ;  Mr.  James  Fraser,  Mauld ; 
Mr.  Roderick  Macrae,  Beauly ;  Mr.  Alexander  Mackenzie,  merchant, 
Church  Street ;  Mr.  Murray,  chief  constable ;  Mr.  A.  Mactavish, 
ironmonger,  Castle  Street ;  Mr.  Duncan  Mactavish,  commission 
agent ;  Mr.  A.  C.  Mackenzie,  Maryburgh  ;  Mr.  Wm.  Mackenzie, 
the  secretary  ;  Mr.  Huntly  Fraser,  Kinmylies ;  Mr.  D.  Maciver, 
cabinetmaker,  Church  Street ;  Mr.  Finlay  Maciver,  gilder, 
Church  Street ;  Mr.  Archd.  A.  Chisholm,  Sherift-Clerk  Depute  ; 
Mr.  A.  Cowan,  wine  merchant ;  Mr.  W.  B.  Forsyth,  Millburn ; 
Mr.  Theodore  Chisholm,  Inverness  Tan  Works ;  Mr.  William 
Bain,  Heathfield  Villa ;  Mr.  Colin  Chisholm,  Inverness ; 
Mr.  John  Maclean,  Inverness  Post-office;  Baillie  Noble;  Mr. 
Charles  Macdonald,  Knocknageal ;  Mr.  Charles  Mackay,  Drum> 
mond ;  Mr.  D.  Mackintosh,  Bank  of  Scotland ;  Mr.  P.  Fraser, 
contractor ;  Mr.  James  Cameron,  ironmonger ;  Mr.  D.  Campbell, 
draper,  Bridge  Street ;  Mr.  Macbean,  assistant  inspector  of  poor ; 
Mr.  D.  Watt,  Volunteer  Arms  Hotel ;  Mr.  Thrift,  Drummond 
Street ;  Mr.  John  Whyte,  Highlander  Office ;  Mr.  Macraild,  writer, 


*  High  Fraing.     Which  is  meant,  King  Francis  or  the  King  of  France  ? — the 
last  I  think. 


Annual  Dinner.  73 

Inverness,  &c.  Apologies  for  absence  were  received  from  the  Earl 
of  Seafield ;  General  Sir  Patrick  Grant,  K.C.B.  ;  Sir  George 
Macpherson-Grant,  M.P. ;  Lord  Reidhaven;  Mr.  D.  Cameron  of 
Lochiel,  M.P. ;  Cluny ;  Mr.  Davidson  of  Tulloch ;  Mr.  Fraser- 
Mackintosh,  M.P. ;  Mr.  John  Mackay,  Swansea ;  Mr.  Alan  R. 
Mackenzie,  yr.  of  Kintail;  Mr.  Osgood  H.  Mackenzie  of  Inverewe; 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Macgregor,  Inverness ;  Sheriff  Nicolson,  Kirkcud- 
bright ;  Mr.  Macpherson,  solicitor,  Kingussie ;  Dr.  Stratton, 
Davenport ;  Mr.  Charles  Innes,  Inverness ;  Mr.  Burgess,  Drumna- 
drochit ;  Mr.  Mackay  of  Ben  Eeay  ;  Provost  Simpson,  Inverness ; 
Dr.  Charles  Mackay,  London,  &c. 

The  usual  loyal  and  patriotic  toasts  having  been  duly  honoured 
and  drunk — Captain  Chisholm  responding  for  "  The  Army,"  Captain 
Scobie  for  "  The  Militia,"  and  Lieut.  G.  J.  Campbell  for  "  The 
Volunteers  " — 

The  Secretary,  Mr.  William  Mackenzie,  read  the  Annual  Report, 
which  was  as  follows  : — "  As  the  members  have  recently  received  the 
eighth  volume  of  the  Society's  Transactions,  containing  a  full  report 
of  our  proceedings  during  the  year,  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  enter 
into  any  details.  Our  income  for  the  year  just  ended  amounted  to 
£167  8s.  7|d.,  and  our  expenditure  to  £135  7s.  lOJd.,  leaving  a 
balance  to  the  credit  of  the  Society  of  £32  Os.  9d.  The  member- 
ship continues  to  keep  up  well ;  but  it  is  nevertheless  desirable  that 
all  who  wish  the  welfare  of  the  Society  should  induce  such  of  their 
friends  as  are  not  already  members  to  join." 

The  Chairman  then  proposed  the  toast  of  the  evening — "  Success 
to  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness."  He  congratulated  the  mem- 
bers on  the  doings  of  the  Society  during  1879,  and  on  the  publication 
of  the  eighth  volume  of  the  Society's  Transactions,  which  showed 
that  a  great  deal  of  labour  and  research  had  been  expended  on  it, 
and  their  congratulations  and  thanks  as  a  Society  were  due  to  those 
gentlemen  who,  by  a  labour  of  love,  contributed  in  making  it  the 
readable  volume  which  it  really  was.  (Applause.)  Some  might  think 
that  Celtic  fire  was  extinct,  but  this  volume  showed  that,  on  the  con- 
trary, it  burned  with  as  great  ardour  as  ever,  for  it  was  fully  equal 
to  any  of  the  preceding  volumes.  In  fact,  it  seemed  to  him  that 
each  volume  as  it  came  out  was  more  interesting  than  the  one  pre- 
ceding it,  and  if  this  be  taken  as  an  earnest  that  as  the  Society  grew 
in  age  it  might  also  increase  in  interest,  its  future  must  indeed  be  a 
brilliant  one.  (Applause.)  Considering  that  they  as  a  Society  had 
arrogated  to  themselves  the  right  of  viewing  the  Highlander  in  his 
various  aspects — they  had  seen  him  as  a  crofter  and  in  his  various 
other  social  occupations — to-night  it  would  not  be  out  of  place  to 
have  a  glance  at  him  as  he  might  appear  as  a  soldier.  (Applause.) 


76  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Some  thought  that  a  little  military  drill  might  improve  him,  and 
that  as  a  soldier  he  would  be  a  much  more  interesting  subject  than 
going  about  lounging,  as  at  present,  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets. 
(Laughter.)  Considering  what  the  Highlanders  were,  what  they 
are,  and  what  they  might  be,  and  bearing  in  mind  the  distinction 
acquired  by  our  Highland  ancestors  for  military  prowess,  the  present 
seemingly  low  ebb  of  military  ardour  in  the  north  was  a  question 
of  some  interest.  (Applause.)  To  examine  it  they  must  take  into 
consideration  three  periods.  The  first  period  was  one  of  60  years, 
extending  from  1757  to  1815,  when  men  were  in  great  demand. 
The  second  period,  from  1815  to  the  time  of  the  Crimean  War,  was 
one  of  peace.  During  it  men  were,  so  to  speak,  a  drug  in  the 
market,  and  the  Highlander  was  allowed  to  slip  out  of  considera- 
tion and  be  supplanted  by  sheep.  They  might  let  that  period  for 
the  present  slip  out  of  consideration,  and  treat  it  as  it  treated  the 
men.  (Laughter.)  The  third  period  was  that  from  the  Crimean 
War,  or  rather  from  1859,  after  the  threat  of  the  French  colonels 
which  had  put  our  present  volunteer  system  in  motion.  During 
that  period,  which  was  our  own  period,  the  value  of  men  again 
began  to  be  recognised.  Various  Highland  societies  had  started 
into  existence,  and  wherever  Highlanders  had  congregated  in  the 
towns  of  the  south  they  were  determined  not  to  lose  sight  of  the 
traditions  of  their  ancestors,  and  through  their  agency,  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  people  began  to  put  his  true  value  on  the  High- 
lander. (Applause.)  Immediately  after  the  "rising"  of  1745-6, 
when  as  a  people  the  Highlanders  were  conquered,  disarmed,  and  he 
might  say,  undressed — (laughter) — everybody  thought  the  military 
spirit  had  been  entirely  crushed  out  of  the  residue  of  the  people. 
(Hear,  hear.)  But  what  were  the  facts  1  Only  a  dozen  years  after 
that,  when  Pitt  called  on  the  country,  how  did  the  Highlands 
respond  ?  They  all  knew  how  the  Highlands  responded.  In  the 
Highlands  regiment  after  regiment  was  raised  till,  in  a  period  of 
forty  years,  the  Highlander  had  contributed  between  forty  and  fifty 
regiments,  which  had  greatly  assisted  the  country  in  maintaining 
her  own  among  the  European  nations,  and  enabled  the  Empire  to 
extend  her  boundaries  in  every  quarter  of  the  globe — (cheers) — 
which  really  meant  the  extension  of  civilisation,  the  extension  of 
Christianity,  the  extension  of  good  government,  and  numerous  other 
blessings  besides.  (Applause.)  There  was  a  very  martial  song 
composed  by  his  friend,  that  well-known  Highlander,  Alexander 
Mcolson,  Sheriff  of  Kirkcudbright — (applause) — the  chorus  of 
which  began,  "  Agus  ho  Mhorag."  It  enumerated,  in  chronological 
order,  the  various  actions  and  battles  taken  part  in  by  our  High- 
landers from  the  days  of  Bannockburn,  when  Scotland  gained  her 


Annual  Dinner.  77 

independence,  to  the  triumphal  entry  of  the  42nd  into  Coomassie. 
(Cheers.)  JSTo  one  gloried  in  the  gallant  deeds  of  our  ancestors 
more  than  he  did.  No  one  was  more  willing  to  acknowledge  that 
hy  these  gallant  deeds  a  lustre  was  raised  around  them  which  was 
even  shed  on  us  their  descendants  at  the  present  day,  but  in  con- 
trasting the  past  with  the  present  he  must  say  that  he  thought, 
with  all  deference  to  those  gallant  actions  and  deeds,  that  they  had 
now  among  them  in  the  Highlands  men  who  had  got  the  hearts  to 
will  and  the  arms  to  perform  similar  deeds  of  valour,  if  placed  in  a 
position  where  they  would  be  called  upon  to  do  so.  (Loud  cheers.) 
Seeing  that  regiment  after  regiment  was  raised  in  those  days,  how 
did  it  come  to  pass  that  we  cannot  raise  men  in  the  Highlands  in  a 
similar  way  at  the  present  day  ?  If  what  he  heard  was  true,  the 
greatest  difficulty  was  experienced  in  obtaining  recruits  for  the 
Highland  regiments.  Can  our  nature  be  changed  1  or  must  we 
account  for  it  by  supposing  that  former  clearances  of  men,  for  the 
sake  of  sheep,  had  anything  to  do  with  it  ?  He  should  say  most 
decidedly  not,  because  he  found  that  if  the  population  of  the  High- 
lands was  not  so  large  as  in  those  days,  Inverness-shire  at  any  rate 
had  actually  a  much  larger  population  now  than  in  the  days  when 
the  tremendous  drain  upon  their  resources  to  which  he  had  alluded 
had  gone  on  for  sixty  years.  If  it  was  thought  that  the  Highland 
nature  had  changed,  and  that  the  Highlander  was  not  so  fond  of 
military  occupation  as  formerly,  he  thought  that  would  not  bear 
examination ;  for  he  found  that  wherever  the  volunteer  system  had 
been  established  Highlanders  cordially  adopted  it.  (Cheers.)  Then 
let  any  of  them  go  to  the  railway  station  at  Inverness  in  the  month 
of  June  and  they  would  find  hundreds — he  might  say  thousands — 
of  West  Coast  fishermen  going  to  the  East  Coast  fishing,  a  calling 
which  he  might  term  one  of  the  perilous  occupations.  (Hear, 
hear.)  Again,  if  they  looked  at  the  Highlander  as  they  found  him 
in  the  large  towns  and  cities  of  the  south,  there  they  would  find 
him  engaged  in  the  peaceful  occupation  of  policeman.  (Laughter.) 
They  had  thus  exemplified  in  the  Highland  character  a  combina- 
tion of  order  and  adventure — the  essential  qualities  of  a  good 
soldier.  (Cheers.)  Looking  at  figures,  he  found  that  in  the 
rural  and  insular  parts  of  the  country  there  was  a  great  break-down. 
(Hear,  hear.)  They  did  not  contribute  many  men  in  comparison 
to  what  they  formerly  did.  Inverness-shire  had  at  present  an  in- 
sular population  of  40,000,  and  the  contributions  it  made  to  the 
military  strength  of  the  Empire  were  very  small,  especially  when 
they  recollected  what  these  districts  did  in  former  days,  and  the 
large  numbers  of  men  they  contributed  to  fight  our  battles.  (Hear 
hear.)  He  had  heard  the  numbers  computed  at  large  figures,  which 


78  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness, 

it  was  unnecesary  for  him  to  repeat ;  but  one  thing  he  might  men- 
tion which  they  did  not  perhaps  know,  and  it  was  this — that  the 
Isle  of  Skye  alone  had  1600  men  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Waterloo. 
(Applause.)  It  was  all  very  well  to  state  what  we  did.  The  ques- 
tion was — What  are  we  doing  now  1  On  looking  at  the  history  of 
the  raising  of  the  Highland  regiments,  he  found  that  in  each  in- 
stance the  entire  credit  was  due  to  the  personal  influence  of  the 
nobles,  chiefs,  and  gentry  who  took  an  interest  in  the  matter. 
(Hear,  hear.)  The  moment  these  took  the  initiative  they  had  no 
difficulty  in  getting  men  to  follow  them.  Did  they  think  that  if 
either  of  the  Pitts  or  the  Government  of  the  day  had  simply  ex- 
pressed a  wish  that  there  should  be  an  augmentation  of  the  forces 
by  the  Highlanders,  or  that  the  Highlanders  should  join  the  army, 
or  if  they  sent  a  Gaelic-speaking  recruiting  sergeant  to  the  High- 
lands, would  that  be  successful  in  getting  men  ?  He  had  no  hesi- 
tation in  saying,  No.  The  men  did  then  what  they  would  do  now 
if  called  upon — they  followed  their  chiefs  and  leaders.  They 
followed  those  they  knew  and  in  whom  they  had  confidence.  The 
men  were  asked  as  a  favour  to  join  the  regiments,  and  they  did  it. 
Let  them  look,  for  instance,  at  the  history  of  the  92nd,  where  the 
historical  and  beautiful  Duchess  of  Gordon  induced  the  men  to  en- 
list with  the  bounty  of  a  sovereign  and  a  kiss.  (Laughter.)  Why, 
if  our  ladies  of  the  present  day  emulated  that  celebrated  duchess — 
(laughter) — they  would  have  the  country  bristling  with  bayonets. 
(Applause.)  It  must  not  be  supposed,  that  because  the  rural  popu- 
lations did  not  join  the  Volunteer  force,  they  had  lost  all  military 
spirit.  If  the  time  came  when  the  services  of  the  people  were  re- 
quired as  they  were  in  former  days,  the  Highlanders  would  be 
found  to  retain  their  ancient  military  renown.  (Cheers.)  This 
Society  had  done  good  work  in  keeping  up  the  recollection  of  the 
past,  and  stimulating  us  of  the  present  day  to  imitate  the  deeds  of 
our  fathers,  and  he  would  ask  them  all  to  drink  cordially  to  its 
success.  (Loud  cheers.) 

Dr.  F.  M.  Mackenzie  proposed  the  "  Members  of  Parliament  for 
the  Highland  Counties  and  Burghs."  He  spoke  in  highly  compli- 
mentary terms  of  all  these  gentlemen,  and  raised  a  cheer  by  ex- 
pressing the  hope  that  "  the  day  may  soon  come  when  some  of  us 
now  around  this  table  will  grace  the  House  of  Commons." 

Mr.  Jolly  was  the  next  speaker.  In  proposing  the  toast  of 
"  Celtic  Literature,"  he  said  he  thought  he  must  have  been  again 
selected  to  speak  to  this  toast  as  a  sort  of  counteractive  to  the 
serious  indictment  made  on  the  literature  of  the  Gael  by  two  of  his 
Highland  colleagues  in  latt  year's  Educational  Blue  Book.  It  was 
a  subject  of  the  greatest  interest  and  widest  range,  and  one  deeply 


Annual  Dinner.  79 

affecting  the  interests  of  the  Gaelic  people  more  than  many  people 
thought.  He  could  only  touch  on  a  few  points.  One  point  on 
which  misapprehensions  existed  both  among  its  friends  and  foes 
was  its  real  character  and  importance.  It  should  be  valued  for 
these  alone,  which  were  of  high  merit,  and  not  for  intrinsic  and 
foreign  elements  which  some  of  its  too  zealous  friends  arrogated  to 
it.  (Applause.)  It  was  not  valuable  as  containing  history,  philo- 
sophy, or  science,  or  the  like,  the  introduction  of  which  into  the 
discussion  had  complicated  it  with  false  issues.  These  should  not 
be  looked  for  there  any  more  than  grapes  in  Iceland  or  gooseberries 
in  India.  (Laughter. )  Its  highest  merit  lay  in  its  being  a  vehicle 
for  the  utterance  of  the  deepest  elementary  feelings  of  human 
nature,  which  formed  nine-tenths  of  the  daily  experiences  of  the 
race,  which  the  Highland  people  uttered  according  to  the  genius 
of  their  expressive  and  picturesque  tongue,  amidst  the  special 
colouring  of  their  mountain  home,  and  as  influenced  by  their  race 
and  peculiar  history,  and  which  had  produced  a  body  of  lyrical 
poetry  of  great  intrinsic  merit,  viewed  absolutely,  and  of  still  higher 
value  as  a  cultural  element  to  the  people  that  had  produced  it. 
(Applause.)  He  would  refer  only  to  two  distinguishing  elements  of 
this  poetry.  First,  there  was  its  relation  to  nature — its  character 
as  a  branch  of  the  naturalistic  poetry  of  our  country.  In  that  it 
stood  high.  The  Highlander  had  been  always  surrounded  by 
natural  influences  of  the  greatest  power  from  the  country  in  which 
he  lived,  that  had  brought  him  into  special  relations  with  nature, 
and  had  early  produced  a  poetry  of  nature  of  a  striking  kind  ;  and 
this  at  a  date  long  anterior  to  the  rise  of  naturalistic 
poetry  in  Britain.  (Applause.)  Here  Mr.  Jolly  described 
several  of  the  characteristics  of  this  poetry — its  animate  de- 
scriptions of  its  various  phases  from  sunshine  to  storm,  its 
loving  appreciation  of  its  beauties  both  of  animal  and  plant  life, 
its  glory  in  the  varied  scenery  that  filled  their  land,  the  constant 
interplay  between  nature  and  human  feelings  that  pervaded  it,  the 
artistic  use  of  its  imagery  in  all  its  utterances,  and  the  like.  Such 
poetry  wherever  it  existed  was  of  high  value,  and  an  important 
agent  in  culture.  (Hear,  hear.)  When  it  arose  in  British  litera- 
ture it  marked  an  important  epoch,  but  it  had  always  more  or  less 
existed  in  Gaelic  literature.  He  then  referred  to  its  use  in  early 
education  in  generating  a  taste  for  natural  beauty  and  grandeur,  and 
the  feelings  it  generated  in  young  minds.  The  second  element  of 
value  in  this  literature  he  would  refer  to  was  its  value  as  giving 
varied,  beautiful,  and  powerful  utterance  to  the  fundamental  feelings 
of  the  human  heart—  those  of  home,  daily  life,  social  intercourse, 
war,  and  devotion.  Here  its  lyrical  poetry  had  eminent  merit. 


80  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness, 

(Applause.)  He  mentioned  some  of  its  characteristics,  from  the 
fiercest  battle  ode  to  sprightly  humour  and  deep  pathos  and  genuine 
passion.  Such  poetry  should  form  a  powerful  element  in  the 
culture  of  any  people  possessing  it,  and  it  should  be  more  employed 
than  it  had  been.  If  rightly  used  it  would  dispel  as  a  black  mist 
before  the  sun  much  of  the  over-sombreness  of  the  life  of  the 
Highlander  and  the  over-sternness  of  his  religion.  (Applause.) 
Mr.  Jolly  would  not  enter  into,  was  in  no  way  fitted  to  express  an 
opinion  on,  the  character  and  contents  of  the  literature  as  a  branch 
of  general  literature  in  itself  and  as  related  to  others.  The  indict- 
ment against  it  by  his  colleagues  he  would  leave  to  others  to  answer, 
and  it  required  an  answer.  The  accusers  were  men  of  ability  who 
did  not  utter  themselves  rashly,  especially  in  a  question  bearing  so 
strcngly  on  their  relations  to  their  own  people.  Their  statements 
on  the  subject  were  important  in  many  ways,  and  should  be  seriously 
met  by  competent  Gaelic  scholars,  otherwise  they  would  remain  an 
unanswered  challenge  seriously  affecting  their  literature,  and  the 
success  of  their  own  efforts  in  regard  to  it  and  related  questions. 
In  regard  to  this  also,  he  had  heard  it  said  that  the  translations  of 
the  ;r  poetry  were  no  real  expression  of  the  original  text,  that  they 
were  finer  than  these,  and  specially  as  done  by  their  friend,  Professor 
Blackie,  were  so  coloured  by  the  personality  of  the  writers  that  an 
outsider  such  as  the  speaker  could  never  know  what  Gaelic  poetry 
really  was.  Was  this  true  ?  It  was  for  them  to  answer  that.  The 
Highland  people  themselves  had  in  general  an  inadequate  idea  of 
their  own  literature,  both  as  to  its  extent  and  nature ;  that  was,  he 
feared,  too  true,  from  various  causes.  That  gave  the  teaching  of  it 
to  Gaelic  children,  if  adequately  done,  a  special  value  in  opening 
their  eyes,  and  making  it  the  cultural  agent  it  might  become. 
(Applause.)  The  chief  thing  that  should  be  aimed  at  was  less  a 
mere  grammatical  study  of  the  words  than  a  real  insight  into  the 
literature,  as  poetry  and  beauty.  For  that  purpose  a  select  antho- 
logy of  Gaelic  poetry  and  prose  should  be  made  by  a  competent 
Gaelic  scholar  for  the  use  of  Gaelic  children  in  the  higher  classes, 
and  as  a  specific  subject,  which  he  hoped  it  would  soon  become. 
(Cheers.)  He  was  glad  to  tell  them  that  an  eminent  publisher  was 
prepared  to  issue  such  a  book,  even  at  a  loss,  from  his  interest  in 
the  Highlands,  and  that  a  distinguished  Gaelic  scholar  had  deter- 
mined to  take  it  in  hand.  (Applause.)  If  that  were  done,  it  would 
give  practical  expression  to  what  tley  proposed  to  do  when  ap- 
proaching Government  on  the  matter.  They  did  not  recommend 
exclusive  Gaelic  literary  culture,  but  Ihe  native  literature  alongside 
of  the  higher  and  richer  English  field  ;  but  they  claimed  justice  to 
the  native  tongue,  with  its  special  avenues  to  the  native  mind.  In 


Annual  Dinner.  81 

that  connection  Mr.  Jolly  hoped  that  the  Northern  Meeting  would 
do  something  far  higher  than  they  had  been  doing  in  "  playing  at 
Highlanders  " — (loud  applause) — and  making  a  public  exhibition 
of  a  few  professionals — (cheers) — and  would  imitate  the  Welsh  in 
cultivating  the  Highlanders  in  a  broader  and  higher  way,  making 
their  literature  a  special  aim.  (Applause.)  What  was  done  on 
such  occasions  was  a  travestie  on  the  Highlands.  (Loud  cheers.) 
Mr.  Jolly  concluded  by  wishing  all  success  to  their  efforts  in  the 
cultivation  of  their  literature  in  all  departments,  and  proposed  the 
toast  amidst  great  enthusiasm,  coupling  it  with  the  names  of  Mr. 
Alex.  Mackenzie  of  the  Celtic  Magazine — whom  ha  congratulated 
on  his  labours  generally  in  that  field,  especially  on  the  solid  piece  of 
good  work  performed  in  his  "  History  of  the  Clan  Mackenzie  "  re- 
cently published — and  Mr  John  Whyte  of  the  Highlander. 

Mr.  Mackenzie,  whose  speech  is  quoted  from  his  own  magazine, 
replied.  He  congratulated  Mr.  Jolly  upon  his  speech  in  pro- 
posing the  toast,  and  on  the  position  he  had  taken  up  in 
connection  with  teaching  Gaelic  in  Highland  Schools,  and 
proceeded  to  compare  his  views  and  disinterested  advocacy 
of  the  rights  of  Highlanders  on  this  question,  with  the 
crude,  flippant,  and  misleading  views  expressed  by  others  of  Her 
Majesty's  Inspectors  in  their  official  capacity  in  their  latest  reports 
to  the  Education  Department.  (Applause.)  In  the  capacity  in 
which  they  there  appear,  he  said,  we  are  perfectly  justified  in 
criticising  them  and  in  asking  if  they  are  even  competent  judges. 
Their  remarks  on  Gaelic  in  the  last  Educational  Blue  Book 
is  a  public  challenge  to  this  Society,  and  to  all  who  take  an  interest 
in  teaching  Gaelic  in  schools,  and  who  assert  that  we  have  any 
literature.  (Applause.)  And  it  appears  to  me  that  the  Federation 
of  Celtic  Societies  would  be  much  better  engaged  in  getting  up  an 
effective  answer,  in  the  form  of  a  pamphlet  or  otherwise,  to  be  sent 
to  "  their  Lordships  "  and  distributed  among  those  interested,  than 
in  discussing  such  burning  questions  as  the  Land  Question,  and 
other  political  subjects — (loud  applause) — and  I  trust  they,  and 
this  Society,  will  at  once  take  the  matter  up.  (Hear,  hear.) 
For  me  to  stand  up  at  a  meeting  like  this,  and  occupy  the  time 
of  the  members  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness,  at  this 
time  of  day,  to  prove  that  a  Gaelic  literature  exists  would  be 
quite  superfluous.  Those  who  assert  the  contrary  are  either 
ignorant,  dishonest,  or  prejudiced.  (Hear,  hear.)  I  am  dealing 
with  Her  Majesty's  Inspectors  as  public  officials  and  mean  to  make 
no  personal  reflections.  I  have  no  great  quarrel  with  Mr.  Ross  for 
what  appears  in  his  report  to  the  Education  Department,  for  he  has 
been  driven  in  spite  of  himself  to  recommend  "  to  place  Gaelic  in 

6 


82  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

the  schedule  of  Special  Subjects,  and  thus  put  it,  as  regards  the 
country  and  the  Universities,  precisely  on  the  same  level  as  Latin 
and  Greek."  (Applause.)  Personally,  I  never  advocated  more 
than  is  here  conceded,  except  that  the  language  of  Gaelic-speaking 
children  should  be  used  as  a  medium  to  teach  them  English.  But 
I  know  that  Mr.  Eoss  long  opposed  this,  especially  in  an  article 
which  appeared  in  the  second  number  of  the  Ross-shire  Journal, 
and  in  a  letter  which  he  afterwards  wrote  to  the  Glasgow  News,  and 
to  both  of  which  I  replied  at  the  time.  The  "  negative  attitude" 
and  other  choice  stock  phrases  of  the  report  will  also  be  found  in 
his  earlier  lucubrations.  Were  it  not  pitiable  to  see  a  really  clever 
Highlander  disposing  as  he  does  of  a  great  literary  problem  which 
has  baffled  even  more  distinguished  scholars  than  he — (hear,  hear) 
— it  would  be  amusing  to  see  him  giving  forth  dogmatically,  with- 
out the  slightest  doubt,  as  if  he  were  the  Pope  himself  acting  ex 
Cathedra,  his  inspired  conclusions  on  the  poems  of  Ossian,  which 
he  says,  "  if  ancient,  would  be  a  noble  literary  heritage ;  but  un- 
fortunately these  poems  are  a  modern  fabrication."  (Oh  !)  Get 
over  that  if  you  can,  gentlemen  of  the  Gaelic  Society.  It  shows 
how  easily  an  Inspector  of  Schools  [and,  thank  goodness,  I  am  not 
one — (loud  laughter)] — can  settle  a  controversy  about  which  other 
great  scholars  have,  even  yet,  some  little  difficulty.  His  elaborate 
paragraph  on  Gaelic  Statistics  crumbles  like  a  pack  of  cards  by  the 
mere  withdrawal  of  the  word  "  only."  I  never  heard  that  upwards 
of  300,000  Highlanders  spoke  Gaelic  only,  but  the  introduction  of 
the  word  "  only  "  by  Mr.  Eoss  was,  of  course,  unintentional,  though 
it  comes  in  well  as  a  prop  to  his  otherwise  weak-kneed  paragraph. 
Other  paragraphs  are  equally  unstable,  and  could  just  as  easily  be 
tumbled  over  if  time  permitted.  (Applause.)  The  man  who  com- 
posed that  paragraph  is  too  clever  by  half.  (Cheers.)  I  am  not, 
however,  done  with  Mr.  Eoss.  This  Society  has  given  him  twenty- 
four  pages  of  their  last  volume  of  Transactions  for  an  abuse  of 
themselves,  which,  in  my  opinion,  for  this  reason  alone,  they 
thoroughly  deserve.  I  cannot  understand  why  we  at  all  exist  as  a 
Society  if  all  Mr.  Eoss  says  regarding  us  is  true  ;  and  even  if  true, 
to  publish  his  charges  in  our  Transactions  and  at  our  own  expense 
is  a  thing  for  which  I  can  see  no  legitimate  reason,  and  a  thing 
against  which  I  strongly  protest.  At  the  rate  I  pay  for  printing, 
his  two  papers  cost  the  Society  about  £10,  and  circulation  for 
nothing.  (Laughter.)  This  is  a  great  deal  more  than  in  my 
opinion  they  are  worth.  (Applause.)  He  then,  at  page  79,  goes 
on  to  cumulate  all  the  bad  things  said  of  the  Celt  by  the  enemies 
of  the  race  for  the  last  century  and  a  half,  pretty  much  as  follows  : 
— "  That  the  Celt  is  an  impediment  vanishing  before  civilization  like 


Annual  Dinner.  83 

the  Red  Indian ;  that  from  the  dawn  of  history  he  has  been 
centuries  behind,  hugging  crass  creeds  which  more  enlightened 
people  had  abandoned ;  the  best  articles  of  his  theology  are 
disjointed  fragments  [where  are  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mackay  and  other 
orthodox  clergymen  of  the  north  1 — (cheers  and  laughter)]  ;  they 
are  given  to  transparent  pretence ;  they  possessed  incoherent  elo- 
quence [perhaps  like  my  own — (oh  !  and  laughter)] ;  a  volcanic 
tendency  to  revolt ;  they  have  been  visionaries  dead  to  the  laws  of 
facts ;  pretentious  bards  :  and  when  not  dreamers,  they  have  been 
scourges  in  lands  which  they  failed  to  conquer  or  till.  The  best, 
the  most  law-abiding  of  them,  have  seldom  got  beyond  a  melancholy 
wail,  except  when  passion,  the  attribute  of  animal  nature,  has 
driven  them  into  fits  of  revenge  ;  until  they  change  they  can  have 
no  kindred  with  the  friends  of  progress  or  social  reform.  Their 
language  is  a  fitting  article  for  savage  imagery,  and  crude,  con- 
glomerate thinking  ;  their  philosophies  are  audacious  myths  or 
shreds  of  savage  survivals ;  and  their  much-vaunted  poetry  is 
stolen  or  appropriated  from  more  fertile  fields  whenever  it  rises 
above  the  dignity  of  scurrilous  twaddle,  or  extends  beyond  the 
borders  of  rude  elemental  lyric."  (Oh  !)  I  did  not  think  that  there 
were  such  a  terrible  lot  of  adjectives  in  Ogilvie's  Dictionary. 
(Laughter.)  He  admits  that  this  is  a  fierce  indictment,  but  he  has 
no  doubt  that  a  certain  egotistical  class  of  Celts  (like  the  members 
of  this  Society)  merit  this  charge.  (Oh  !  oh  !)  He  then  goes 
on  to  say  in  the  same  strain  that  that  ignorant  type  of  High- 
lander, who  sees  no  manly  virtue  except  beneath  the  kilt, 
which,  in  his  ignorance,  he  calls  the  national  garb  ;  who  hears 
no  sweet  sound  except  that  of  the  bagpipes,  which,  with  equal 
ignorance,  he  calls  the  national  instrument ;  and  who  finds  no 
poetry  except  in  Gaelic,  which  he  regards  as  the  national  language. 
Gentlemen,  what  an  ignoramus  the  Highlander  has  always  been  before 
we  had  inspectors  of  schools  — (loud  laughter) — to  think  that  Gaelic 
was  his  national  language.  (Laughter.)  What  was  it]  This  typical  Celt 
is  altogether  ignorant  of  the  merest  elements  of  his  ancestral  history  ; 
he  preaches  manliness  and  toadies  to  the  nearest  lord — [Where  are 
you,  John  Murdoch1? — (applause)] — his  function  is  to  ignore  facts 
and  to  over-rule  the  laws  of  social  polity  and  national  sequence. 
(Oh  !  oh  !)  He  calls  himself  a  reformer,  and  he  advocates  a  return 
to  the  kilt,  to  the  bagpipes,  to  Gaelic,  all  of  which  he  loudly  asserts 
to  possess  high  national  antiquity  as  well  as  high  national  virtues  ; 
but  the  Celtic  savant  in  Europe — Mr  Ross,  of  course  ;  and  what  a 
blessing  it  is  we  have  one  modest  Celt — (great  laughter) — knows  that 
the  kilt  is  neither  ancient  nor  Gaelic,  that  the  bagpipe  is  Sclavonic, 
and  not  the  national  instrument  of  the  Gaelic  people  ;  and  that 


84  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Gaelic  itself  is  a  very  modern  and  very  composite  dialect  ;  and  so 
on  through  this  remarkable  article,  which  you  have  published  in 
your  annual  volume.  (Hear,  hear.)  It  is  not  for  me  to  say  whether 
this  is  all  true  or  not.  Indeed  I  dare  not  when  such  a  distinguished 
oracle — (laughter) — proclaims  it  in  our  own  Transactions.  Butwhether 
it  be  true  or  not,  our  annual  volume  is  not  the  place  to  publish 
such  charges  against  ourselves  and  the  race  in  whose  interest 
we  have  come  into  existence  as  a  Society.  (Loud  applause.)  As 
one  of  the  originators  of  this  Society,  I  strongly  protest  againt  its 
funds  and  its  volume  of  Transactions  being  used  for  such  an  un- 
patriotic purpose.  (Cheers.)  I  have  left  myself  but  little  time  to 
say  anything  about  Mr.  Sime's  conclusions  and  the  manner  in  which 
he  expresses  them  to  "  My  Lords."  He  u  should  regard  the  teaching 
of  Gaelic  in  schools,  in  any  shape  or  form,  as  a  most  serious  misfor- 
tune." (Oh !  oh !)  He  then  has  a  dig  at  the  "  patriots,"  [the  word 
is  in  inverted  commas  of  course — (laughter)]  and  informs  us  that 
Gaelic  "  is  not  and  never  will  be  of  the  slightest  value  in  conduct- 
ing the  business  of  this  world,"  forgetting,  if  common  report  be  true, 
that  he  himself  owes  his  position  as  one  of  Her  Majesty's  Inspectors 
of  Schools  to  what  I  know  to  be  his  very  limited  knowledge  of  it. 
(Laughter  and  applause.)  It  must  have  been  of  some  commercial 
value  to  him.  (Loud  laughter.)  He  says  that  there  is  the  strongest 
reasons  for  not  teaching  it ;  which  is  perfectly  true  from  his  stand- 
point, for  the  double  reason,  that  he  has  not  a  sufficient  knowledge 
of  it  to  examine  the  scholars  in  it — (hear,  hear) — and  that  most  of 
the  teachers  are  so  ignorant  of  it  that  they  cannot  teach  it. 
(Applause.)  The  cure  for  this  is  too  obvious  to  need  pointing  out. 
(Hear.)  I  agree  with  him  that  "  every  teacher  so  situated  would 
rejoice  were  Gaelic,  as  a  spoken  tongue,  abolished  root  and  branch." 
I  know  Mr.  Sime  too  well  not  to  know  that  he  is  incapable  of  mis- 
representing the  facts  wilfully.  It  is,  however,  equally  certain  that 
he  does  not  understand  them.  His  references  —for  they  are  not 
worthy  the  name  of  arguments — about  the  "  bread-and-butter  point  of 
view"  and  the  comparative  advantages  of  reading  the  English  or  Gaelic 
Bible,  and  Gaelic  as  a  means  of  culture,  are  beneath  notice.  Mr.  Sime 
would  lead  "  My  Lords  "  to  think  that  we  advocated  the  teaching  of 
Gaelic  to  the  exclusion  of  English.  This  is  worse  than  nonsense. 
(Hear,  hear.)  No  sane  Highlander  ever  went  that  length.  (Ap- 
plause.) What  I  want,  and  what  you  want,  is  that  Gaelic  should 
be  used  as  a  means  to  teach  English,  and  also  made  a  special  subject, 
as  even  Mr.  Ross  and  the  Educational  Institute  now  recommend. 
(Cheers.)  Mr.  Sime  most  certainly  does  not  understand  the 
position — (hear) — for  he  entirely  caricatures  the  claims  of  all 
intelligent  advocates  of  Gaelic,  (Applause.)  The  reasons  which 


Annual  Dinner.  85 

he  gives  for  his  advice  to  their  lordships  are  misleading  and 
illogical  on  the  very  face  of  them,  and  they  will  most  undoubtedly 
be  valued  accordingly.  (Applause.)  In  conclusion,  he  thanks  the 
teachers  who  have  so  readily  and  so  fully  responded  to  his  request 
for  information  to  be  used  in  preparing  his  report ;  but  I  know 
those  whose  opinions,  given  at  his  request,  in  circulars  sent  out  by 
him  to  teachers,  and  most  of  whom  already  knew  his  own  views, 
are  quite  ignored  in  the  report,  just  because  they  advocated  that 
Gaelic  should  be  made  a  special  subject.  The  existence  of  such 
should  have  been  at  least  acknowledged.  (Cheers.)  I  am  sorry 
that  I  should  have  been  obliged  to  have  spoken  thus,  but  the 
challenge  was  a  public  one  made  by  public  officials  in  a  public  re- 
port. It  is  therefore  fair  game  for  criticism  ;  and  I  have  no  hesita- 
tion in  saying  that  if  further  challenged  I  shall  take  in  hand  to 
prove  that  some  of  these  gentlemen,  at  least,  are  far  too  ignorant  of 
Gaelic,  and  any  literature  it  contains,  to  justify  them  in  expressing 
any  opinion  upon  it.  (Loud  applause.)  I  have  occupied  your  time 
far  too  long,  and  I  will  now  leave  my  friend,  Mr.  Whyte,  to  do  the 
amiable  part  of  the  business.  (Loud  and  continued  applause.) 

Mr.  John  Whyte  briefly  replied. 

Mr.  Alexander  Eoss,  architect,  had  much  pleasure  in  proposing 
"  Kindred  Societies."  As  the  object  of  this  and  kindred  societies, 
he  said,  is  the  preservation  of  records,  the  elucidation  of  our  early 
history,  and  the  perpetuation  of  all  that  is  good  and  worthy  in  the 
nation,  we  must,  I  think,  heartily  wish  them  God  speed.  (Ap- 
plause.) Unfortunately  much  of  the  early  history  of  Scotland, 
especially  before  the  tenth  centur}',  is  enveloped  in  darkness  and 
obscurity,  and  we  have  but  faint  rays  of  light  in  the  incidental 
references  of  Roman  and  other  writers.  We  are  thus  left  to  grope 
about  as  we  best  can.  These  occasional  lights  or  beacons,  faint  and 
distant  though  they  be,  serve  as  a  starting  point,  and  daily,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  zealous  individuals  and  the  encouragement  of 
this  and  kindred  societies,  obscure  points  are  being  cleared  up,  and 
our  knowledge  of  the  early  history  of  our  native  land  extended. 
(Applause.)  When  we  look  at  our  Transactions,  now  extending  to 
eight  goodly  volumes,  one  feels  that  the  time  of  this  Society  has 
not  been  misspent,  and  that  in  the  departments  of  folk-lore,  philology, 
and  song  good  work  has  been  done.  (Loud  applause.)  I  am  not 
one  of  those  people  that  believe  the  Gaelic  language  is  destined  long 
to  survive  as  a  commercial  language  ;  but  it  is  not  dead  yet,  and 
will  not  die  out  in  our  time,  and  it  is  necessary  to  the  very  ends  of 
history,  to  which  I  referred,  that  its  bones  should  be  preserved,  and 
for  this  reason  I  hail  with  pleasure  the  successful  accomplishment  of 
Professor  Blackie'a  task — the  gathering  of  funds  for  the  endowment 


86  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

of  the  Gaelic  Chair.  (Cheers.)  So  far  back  as  1836  this  scheme  was 
taken  up  by  the  Gaelic  Society  of  London,  by  such  men  as  Lord 
Aboyne,  Sir  George  Sinclair,  and  Campbell  of  Islay ;  but  it  was 
left  to  the  present  generation  to  accomplish  what  they  had  so  well 
begun.  The  Professor  of  Celtic  Literature  should  be  a  strong  back- 
bone and  guide  to  the  efforts  of  our  societies,  and  give  an  impetus 
to  the  work  which  they  have  on  hand.  When  we  look  how  much 
has  been  done  to  rescue  from  oblivion  and  preserve  the  scattered 
fragments  of  archaeological  remains,  and  the  folk-lore  of  the  people, 
one  must  feel  grateful  to  those  gentlemen  and  societies  that  have 
gone  before,  some  of  them  now  passed  away.  We  have  only  to 
turn  to  the  volumes  of  the  Spalding  Club,  the  Grampian  Club,  and 
the  Koyal  Antiquarian  Society  of  Scotland,  to  realise  what  a 
rich  field  there  is  in  Scotland,  and  how  fertile  our  Highland 
hills  are  in  interesting  remains.  (Applause.)  It  is  true  when 
we  examine  the  work  we  find  that  it  has  been  done  in  a  large 
measure  by  a  few  willing  hands,  such  as  Logan,  Pennant,  Gregory, 
Stewart,  Chambers,  Campbell,  and  others ;  yet  I  believe  that  many 
of  them  were  led  to  take  up  the  work,  and  encouraged  to  go  on, 
from  their  connection  with  societies  such  as  this.  (Applause.)  I 
am  glad  to  see  that  the  songs  and  folk-lore  are  receiving  special  at- 
tention from  the  members  of  the  Inverness  Society,  and  from  their 
situation  in  the  heart  of  the  Highlands  they  can,  and  ought,  to  do 
more  than  almost  any  other.  There  are,  I  am  glad  to  observe,  many 
other  stations  where  societies  have  been  established,  notably  at  Edin- 
burgh, Glasgow,  Greenock,  Oban,  Perth,  and  I  confess  I  should  like 
to  hear  more  of  similar  societies  in  the  colonies.  (Applause.)  I  am 
not  aware  of  what  has  been  done,  or  that  anything  definite  has  been 
done  in  this  direction — though  social  clubs  are  no  doubt  plentiful.  I 
have  yet  to  learn  that  they  have  undertaken  any  definite  work.  Mr. 
Mackenzie,  in  his  late  rambles  through  Canada,  refers  to  fine 
libraries  of  Celtic  literature  and  enthusiastic  scholars.  Surely  they 
may  do  something  to  forward  the  work.  Perhaps  he  can  tell  us 
something  of  the  clubs.  I  am  glad  to  say  we  have  more  than  one 
society  in  Inverness  devoting  its  energies  to  the  investigation  of  the 
early  records  and  history,  and  also  to  the  collecting  and  storing  of 
every  trace  of  archasological  remains  that  can  be  found,  and  I  hope 
when  we  have  the  benefit  of  our  new  Museum  and  Library,  to  see 
them  both  enriched  by  a  full  complement  of  Celtic  relics  and  litera- 
ture. They  ought  to  be  a  crowning  feature  of  our  collection,  and  I 
trust  they  will  be  so.  (Applause.)  When  we  look  around,  and 
find  that  even  within  the  memory  of  many  here,  societies  having 
those  special  objects  in  view  which  we  now  profess,  have  grown 
and  passed  away,  and,  what  is  still  more  sad,  their  collections 


Annual  Dinner,  87 

perished,  we  ought  to  make  every  effort  to  preserve  what  is  left  to 
us,  and  I  do  hope  that,  with  the  adoption  of  the  Free  Libraries  Act, 
and  the  establishment  of  a  permanent  museum,  we  shall  be  able  not 
only  to  recover,  but  to  preserve  every  atom  and  object  of  interest  in 
Highland  history.  (Applause.)  When  I  said  that  many  societies 
and  members  thereof  have  passed  away,  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to 
point  to  one  exception,  and  he  is  a  notable  one — I  mean  Mr.  Colin 
Chisholm,  for  many  years  President  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  London, 
and  whose  kindly  face  and  reverend  appearance,  at  an  annual  feast 
here,  adds  much  to  the  character  and  pleasure  of  the  evening.  1 
wish  I  could  give  this  toast  in  Gaelic.  It  would,  I  am  sure,  be 
more  to  his  mind,  but  in  any  shape  it  will  be  well  received  by  the 
Society.  (Loud  cheers.) 

Mr.  Colin  Chisholm.  in  reply,  said  that,  having  been  attached 
for  the  greater  part  of  his  life  to  kindred  societies  in  the  south,  he 
might  be  permitted,  at  the  outset,  to  express  his  opinion — as  the 
result  of  observation  and  long  experience — that  it  would  be  both 
desirable  and  beneficial  for  a  young  man  from  the  Highlands  to 
join  a  society  of  his  countrymen  in  any  town  in  which  his  lot  might 
be  cast  in  the  south.  The  one  I  joined,  he  said,  the  Gaelic  Society 
of  London,  the  oldest  of  all  Scottish  societies  in  London,  was  a 
source  of  much  pleasure  and  information  to  me.  It  is  now  vener- 
able, having  celebrated  its  centenary  three  years  ago.  (Applause.) 
The  cordiality  with  which  all  present  honoured  "  Kindred  Societies" 
is  an  earnest  of  the  undying  attachment  which  all  Celtic  societies 
have  to  each  other.  With  no  other  is  that  welfare  more  at  heart, 
better  understood,  or  more  efficiently  promoted  than  by  the  Gaelic 
Society  of  Inverness. 

Mr.  Andrew  Macdonald  proposed  "The  Provost,  Magistrates,  and 
Town  Council  of  Inverness,"  remarking  in  a  word  that  they  con- 
tinued to  do  their  duty  with  credit  to  themselves  and  satisfaction 
to  the  community.  (Applause.) 

Bailie  Noble  acknowledged  the  toast.  By  the  recent  retirement 
of  an  excellent  man,  Provost  Simpson,  a  gentleman  who  had  done 
good  work  for  a  great  many  years,  the  Council  was  in  a  state  of 
transition ;  but  he  trusted  the  office  would  soon  be  filled  up,  and 
that  the  next  Provost  would  be  a  clansman  bearing  the  name  of  a 
clan  (that  of  Mackintosh)  that  had  always  been  intimately  connected 
with,  and  favourable  to,  the  town  of  Inverness.  (Applause.) 

Mr.  James  Barren  proposed  "  The  Agricultural  and  Commercial 
Interests  of  the  North  of  Scotland" — a  toast  which  it  might  be  said 
embraced  the  entire  material  interests  of  the  district,  for  it  was 
either  on  commerce  or  agriculture  that  the  population  depended. 
During  the  past  year  we  had  experienced  a  crisis  of  exceptional 


88  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

severity.  So  extreme  was  it  in  commerce  that  he  hoped  we  might 
never  look  upon  the  like  again.  (Hear,  hear.)  No  one  could 
remember  without  a  chill  the  gloom  that  sat  upon  men's  faces,  or 
the  depression  that  clogged  their  energies  and  filled  their  hearts 
with  dismay.  Thanks,  however,  to  the  tact,  forbearance,  and 
patience  of  a  few  skilful  men,  the  worst  apprehensions  were  never 
realised,  and  we  had  now  shaken  off  the  incubus,  and  were  rejoicing 
in  returning  prosperity.  (Applause.)  In  agriculture,  he  thought, 
we  had  not  been  so  ill-off  as  people  were  in  some  other  parts  of  the 
country.  In  the  country,  as  a  whole,  the  wheat  crop,  which 
should  have  returned  over  11,000,000  quarters,  had  failed  to  yield 
even  7,000,000  quarters  ;  and  he  had  observed  that  a  farmer  stated 
recently  that  he  had  lost  £20,000  in  five  years.  In  the  North  their 
losses  were  not  so  large,  but  they  were  large  enough.  Arable  and 
pastoral  farmers  had  both  suffered.  Wool  had  fallen  so  low  that  it 
actually  became  unsaleable,  and  he  need  not  remind  them  of  the 
fears  that  were  experienced  regarding  foreign  competition  in  meat 
and  grain.  Happily,  if  they  now  got  favourable  seasons,  agricul- 
ture promised  to  share  in  the  revival  that  had  set  in.  (Hear, 
hear.)  We  were  alive  yet  in  spite  of  the  Americans,  and,  indeed, 
it  was  curious  that  returning  vitality  was  in  a  great  measure  owing 
to  this  very  people.  The  demand  from  the  United  States  gave  the 
first  impulse  to  activity,  and  he  had  been  informed  that  we  were 
actually  indebted  to  American  manufacturers  for  the  sudden  and 
wonderful  rise  in  the  price  of  wool.  (Applause.)  In  conclusion, 
he  observed  that  if  any  agriculturists  deserved  to  succeed,  they 
were  the  industrious  and  intelligent  agriculturists  of  the  North  of 
Scotland — (applause) — and  if  any  commercial  community  deserved 
to  prosper,  it  was  that  community  which  stood  manfully  together 
in  the  darkest  hour,  and  saved  an  institution  which  so  many  power- 
ful elements  had  combined  to  destroy.  (Cheers.) 

Mr.  Kobert  Grant,  of  the  Royal  Tartan  Warehouse,  with  whose 
name  the  toast  was  coupled,  returned  thanks.  It  was,  he  said, 
generally  admitted  that  agriculture  had  not  been  paying,  but  it  was 
difficult  to  say  what  had  been  paying  for  some  time  back.  (Hear, 
hear.)  The  bad  times  had  affected  everything,  and  if  commercial 
men  said  little,  it  was  not  because  they  suffered  little,  but  because 
they  had  learned  how  unavailing  it  was  to  complain.  (Applause.) 
There  was,  however,  room  to  hope  that  better  times  were  at  hand. 
It  augured  well  that  the  local  institution  referred  to  by  Mr.  Barron 
was  again  under  weigh,  and  the  temporary  difficulties  of  the  past 
well-nigh  forgotten  in  the  hoped-for  prosperity  of  the  future.  (Ap- 
plause.) This  toast  was,  perhaps,  too  tame  and  practical  to  be  very 
much  in  sympathy  with  a  meeting  of  this  kind,  for  in  their  past 


Annual  Dinner.  89 

history  Highlanders  have  excelled  more  in  their  martial  than  in 
their  commercial  or  industrial  character.  But  times  had  changed, 
and  Highlanders  were  now  applying  themselves  to  more  peaceful 
pursuits,  aud  this  had,  perhaps,  as  much  to  do  with  the  scarcity  of 
recruits  for  our  regular  army  as  the  cause  assigned  hy  the  Chairman. 
(Hear,  hear.)  And  notwithstanding  this  aspect  of  the  matter,  there 
could  be  no  doubt  it  was  for  the  interest  and  benefit  of  the  High- 
lands that  the  attention  and  energies  of  its  people  should  continue 
to  be  applied  in  this  direction,  although  the  time,  he  hoped,  would 
never  come  when  the  martial  ardour  of  the  clans  would  be 
extinguished  in  the  Highlands,  and  could  not  be  called  forth  on  any 
great  occasion.  (Cheers.)  The  opening  up  of  the  Highlands  by 
railway  communication  gave  an  impulse  which  had  resulted  in  much 
material  progress  and  improvement.  In  the  capital  business  had 
been  increased  and  extended.  And  in  addition  to  the  large  works 
connected  with  the  railway  system  itself,  other  industries  had 
sprung  up  that  gave  employment  to  the  people  and  contributed  to 
the  prosperity  and  resources  of  the  town.  (Applause.)  Another 
hopeful  feature  in  the  commercial  future  of  Inverness  was  that 
efforts  having  for  their  object  the  development  of  local  industry  and 
the  employment  for  the  people  met  with  encouragement  and  sup- 
port, and  that  the  notion  that  any  growth  or  extension  of  public 
works  in  the  neighbourhood  could  interfere  with  the  amenity  of  the 
town,  as  a  place  of  residence  or  education,  was  being  gradually  dis- 
pelled. (Loud  applause.) 

Mr.  W.  B.  Forsyth,  in  proposing  the  toast  of  the  "  Non-resident 
Members,"  said  it  was  most  gratifying  to  know  that  these  gentle- 
men formed  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  Society — nearly  one- 
half  in  fact — while  they  contributed  largely  to  the  funds,  and 
displayed  great  interest  in  the  objects  and  proceedings  of  the 
Society.  Indeed,  they  composed  perhaps  the  most  enthusiastic 
class  of  members.  (Applause.)  He  coupled  the  toast  with  the 
name  of  a  gentleman  who  had  been  a  member  from  the  beginning, 
and  had  shown  a  lively  interest  in  their  affairs,  Mr.  A.  C.  Mac- 
kenzie, Mary  burgh.  (Applause.) 

Mr.  Mackenzie,  in  responding,  said  that  as  one  of  the  oldest, 
though  unfortunately  also  one  of  the  most  inactive,  members  of  the 
Society,  he  had  much  pleasure  in  replying  for  the  non-resident 
members,  who,  as  Mr.  Forsyth  remarked,  formed  the  majority  of 
the  Society.  The  country  members  were  inclined  to  look  on  the 
town  members  as  a  sort  of  general  standing  committee  to  carry  out 
the  behests  of  the  non-residents,  and  that  duty  was  well  and  satis- 
factorily performed.  (Cheers.)  The  action  of  the  Society  which 
interested  him  most,  as  a  teacher,  was  the  efforts  made  to  secure 


90  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

the  teaching  of  their  native  language  in  their  schools.  (Applause.) 
On  this  subject  some  strong  opinions  had  been  expressed  on  both 
sides,  but  these  views  were  now  being  modified  so  much  that  there 
was  a  better  prospect  of  an  agreement  on  the  subject.  He  was 
sorry  to  see  their  Highland  inspectors  going  so  far  out  of  their  way 
to  decry  our  Gaelic  literature,  which,  though  not  extensive,  was 
interesting,  and  well  worthy  of  preservation.  (Applause.)  He 
was  not  sure,  however,  that  a  profound  acquaintance  with  Gaelic 
literature  was  required  to  enable  Her  Majesty's  Inspectors  to  judge 
of  the  requirements  of  their  districts  in  the  matter  of  Gaelic  teach- 
ing. Of  the  five  inspectors  at  work  in  the  Highlands,  two  were 
Saxons,  and  he  was  not  sure  but  one  of  them,  their  friend  the 
Croupier,  was  in  sentiment  the  most  Highland  of  them  all.  (Cheers.) 
The  other  had  spent  a  dozen  years  in  the  work  of  education  in  the 
north,  and  had  a  good  deal  of  sympathy  with  the  difficulties  and 
peculiarities  of  Highland  education.  The  other  three  were  native 
Highlanders.  The  senior  of  them,  Mr.  Macleod,  was  a  native  of 
the  north,  and  had  most  of  his  official  experience  in  his  native 
districts.  Mr.  Eoss  was  brought  up  in  a  picturesque  glen  of  Boss- 
shire,  and  had  his  work  in  the  south-west  Highlands  of  Argyle  and 
Bute  ;  while  Mr.  Sime,  whose  youth  had  been  spent  in  the  vicinity 
of  Loch  Tay,  was  now  having  many  opportunities  of  observing  the 
requirements  of  the  north.  Surely,  then,  these  gentlemen,  who 
were  men  of  culture  and  earnest  students  from  their  youth,  must 
be  acknowledged  as  competent  judges  of  the  requirements  of  their 
respective  districts.  He  strongly  held  they  were  ;  but  he  was 
sorry  to  see  that  they  did  not  sympathise  much  with  Gaelic.  He 
was,  however,  well  satisfied  with  Mr.  Eoss's  conclusion,  though  how 
he  arrived  at  it  from  his  premises  he  (the  speaker)  could  not  well 
understand.  (Laughter.)  It  was  remarked  that  Mr.  Sime  had 
consulted  the  teachers,  which  he  knew  to  be  the  case ;  but  he  also 
knew  that  the  great  majority  of  them  held  their  inspector's  views. 
He  might  state  that  he  (Mr.  M.)  was  one  of  the  smaller  number. 
(Cheers.)  If  Gaelic  were  to  be  made  a  specific  subject,  of  which 
there  appeared  to  be  some  slight  hope — (cheers) — he  had  reason  to 
expect  that  the  standard  of  examination  would  be  pitched  pretty 
high,  on  the  model  of  the  other  languages,  and  if  so,  he  would  be 
inclined  to  suggest  that  all  Highland  inspectors,  teachers,  and 
editors  should  be  required  to  pass  the  third  stage  before  they  could 
be  qualified  to  examine,  teach,  or  write  authoritatively  on  the  sub- 
ject. (Laughter.) 

Mr.  William  Mackay,  solicitor,  in  proposing  the  toast  of  "  The 
Clergy  of  all  Denominations,"  said  he  might  perhaps  be  permitted  to 
give  a  glimpse  or  two  of  clerical  life  in  the  Highlands  in  the  olden 


Annual  Dinner.  91 

times.  In  bygone  ages,  he  said,  when  the  law  was  weak,  and 
rapine  and  disorder  prevailed,  the  clergy  of  every  denomination 
were  much  more  militant  than  they  now  are,  and,  not  to  go  twenty 
miles  from  Inverness,  we  find  that  not  only  did  an  Urquhart 
minister  kill  a  Glenmoriston  man  for  committing  a  dastardly  out- 
rage on  a  Glen-TJrquhart  woman,  but  the  Beauly  priests  slew  a  man 
who  had  unduly  interfered  with  their  fishings.  Notwithstanding, 
however,  that  the  Highland  clergy  did  sometimes,  in  this  way,  take 
the  law  into  their  own  hands,  their  condition  was  not  always  a 
pleasant  one,  and  I  find  that  some  of  them  resembled  St.  Paul  in 
this  respect  at  least,  that  they  often  were  in  perils  of  robbers,  in 
perils  by  their  own  countrymen,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  cold  and 
nakedness.  For  example,  in  1670,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Houston, 
minister  of  the  parish  of  Boleskiiie,  put  on  record  that  "  he  had  no 
security  for  his  life  or  goods,  his  house  being  laitly  seized  upon  by 
Lochaber  robbers,  himself  threatened  with  naked  swords  and  drawn 
dirks  at  his  breast,  his  money  and  household  stuff  plundered,  and 
seeing  that  one  of  their  number  suffered  death  laitly  therefor  at 
Inverness,  that  the  rest  of  them  were  lieing  in  waite  for  his  life, 
and  threatening  his  ruine  and  damnage,  so  that  in  the  evening  he  is 
affrayed  he  will  be  burnt  to  ashes  before  morning."  Mr.  Houston 
also  complains  that  even  his  own  people  fail  to  pay  the  stipend  due 
to  him,  and  deny  him  that  "  maintenance  that  the  laiidable  laws  of 
the  land  allow  him,  to  maintaine  himself  and  his  family,  and  to 
breed  his  children  at  schooles  ;  "  and  he  therefore  prays  the  Church 
Courts  "  to  grant  him  the  benefit  of  that  remedy  which  the  laud- 
able laws  of  the  Church  of  Christ  have  offered  his  servants  in  such 
unsupportable  straits  by  giving  a  transportation  from  the  ministrie 
in  that  place  (Boleskine)  to  anye  place  quhere  the  Lord  in  Mercy 
may  be  pleased  to  call  him."  (Laughter.)  Again,  the  Rev.  James 
Smith,  minister  of  Dores,  in  1671,  had  no  manse,  and  he  com- 
plained that  "  hs  had  no  maintenance  amongst  his  hard-hearted 
people,  nor  would  he  get  so  much  of  his  own  stipend  as  would 
carry  him  through  the  parish  to  manage  his  Master's  affairs,  but 
was  keeped  as  a  poor  mendicant  ever  since  he  came  amongst  that 
people ;  that  they  had  no  inclination  to  do  him  the  least  duty 
herein  though  he  had  sought  after  it  in  the  ino.st  peaceable  manner 
that  could  be,  as  if,  chameleon-like,  he  could  live  upon  the  aire." 
The  people  against  whom  Mr.  Smith  made  these  charges  confessed 
that  "they  were  much  refreshed  by  him  Sabbathly,  both  in  the 
English  and  Irish  languages."  In  Glen-Urquhirt  things  were  not 
better,  I  am  sorry  to  say.  The  Kev.  Duncan  MacCulloch,  minister 
of  that  parish,  and  his  people  were  not  on  the  most  friendly  terms 
in  the  year  1671.  The  people  alleged  that  lie  "  used  no  family 


92  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

visitation,"  that  he  did  not  pray  when  he  lodged  in  his  parishioners' 
houses,  that  he  neither  catechised  nor  administered  the  Sacrament 
since  his  entry  to  the  parish,  that  though  much  of  his  stipend  had 
been  arrested  in  his  parishioners'  hands,  "  he  had  no  care  to  pay  his 
debts  or  relieve  the  gentlemen  from  hazard  of  legal  executions  in 
their  coutrar;"  and  that  "he  was  a  reproach  to  the  ministrie  and 
the  parish  in  going  with  so  beggarly  a  habit."  In  return,  he  com- 
plained that  he  had  neither  countenance  nor  maintenance  among 
his  people,  that  the  little  he  had  possessed  had  been  stolen  from 
him ;  and  that  "  when  he  is  wronged  or  injured  in  his  person  or 
means  they  have  not  that  due  regard  to  him  as  to  resent  these 
wrongs  and  injuries  to  him."  (Laughter.)  The  three  ministers  I 
have  named  were  Episcopalians,  at  least  they  outwardly  conformed 
when  Episcopacy  was  for  a  short  time  established  ;  but  that  the 
Presbyterian  clergy  were  not  exempt  from  similar  treatment  we 
find  from  the  case  of  the  Eev.  Patrick  Nicholson  of  Kiltarlity, 
against  Roderick  Chisholm  of  Chisholm,  who  subsequently  fought 
for  Prince  Charles  at  Culloden.  (Loud  applause.)  In  1738,  Mr. 
Nicholson  obtained  letters  of  caption  against  The  Chisholm  for 
several  years'  unpaid  stipend,  but  the  caption  was  of  little  use,  for, 
in  a  petition  to  the  General  Assembly,  the  minister  complains  that 
he  "  has  been  lately  threatened  by  Eoderick  Chisholm  of  Coniar  in 
very  menacing  expressions.  To  witt,  in  these  or  other  words  to 
this  purpose,  That  if  I  should  apprehend  him  with  caption  it 
should  be  the  last  that  ever  I  should  use."  These,  gentlemen,  are  a 
few  gleanings  illustrative  of  the  life  of  the  Highland  clergy  in  the 
good  old  times.  Let  us  be  thankful  that  the  clergyman  of  our  day 
is  not  subject  to  the  same  trials  and  tribulations.  There  are  now 
no  Lochaber  robbers,  no  naked  swords,  no  drawn  dirks  ;  and  if  by 
chance  his  habit  approaches  the  stage  at  which  it  may  be  called 
"  beggarly,"  he  is  straightway  enveloped  in  a  pulpit  gown,  the  gift 
of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation.  (Loud  applause.)  He  is  not 
expected  to  live  upon  the  air ;  his  stipend  is  duly  paid,  and  if 
that  is  considered  insufficient  for  his  maintenance,  the  same  fair 
agents  go  to  work,  black  mail  is  levied  on  the  male  section  of  the 
flock,  articles  of  dress  and  ornament  are  gathered  from  far  and  near, 
a  bazaar  is  inaugurated,  prices  are  increased,  the  stipend  is  aug- 
mented, and,  like  the  husband  of  that  model  woman  depicted  by 
King  Lemuel's  mother,  the  clergyman  is  known  in  the  gates  when 
he  sitteth  among  the  elders  of  the  land.  No  doubt,  this  may  be, 
and  sometimes  is,  earned  too  far ;  but  still,  better  this  error  than 
that  of  our  forefathers,  and  in  drinking  this  toast  let  our  wish  be 
that  Scotland's  esteem  for  her  worthy  clergy  may  continue  as  long 
as  the  sun  and  moon  shall  endure.  (Loud  applause.) 


Annual  Dinner.  93 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bisset,  Stratherrick,  replied.  It  was  matter  for 
congratulation  that  the  names  of  clergymen  could  now  be  mentioned 
in  common  with  those  of  other  people,  and  that  the  clergymen  can 
be  seen  sitting  side  by  side  with  social  men  at  the  social  board,  en- 
joying themselves  and  contributing  to  the  enjoyment  of  others. 
(Applause.)  We  had  reason  to  be  thankful  that  we  had  seen  the 
dawn  of  day — freedom  and  liberty  ;  and  that  unkindly  feelings 
and  asperities  between  clergymen  and  laymen  were  things  of  the 
past.  (Applause.) 

Mr.  D.  Campbell,  Bridge  Street,  proposed  "  The  Press,"  and 
Mr.  W.  B.  Forsyth  briefly  replied. 

Sir  Kenneth  Mackenzie,  who  was  received  with  loud  applause, 
proposed  the  health  of  the  chairman.  (Cheers.)  One  of  the 
advantages  which  he  (Sir  Kenneth)  had  experienced  by  being  pre- 
sent at  this  meeting  was  that  he  had  been  enabled  to  form  the 
acquaintance  of  Mr.  Macdonald  of  Skaebost,  whom  it  was,  indeed, 
a  very  great  pleasure  to  know,  and  to  have  as  Chief  of  this  Society. 
(Applause.)  He  had  been  long  known  as  an  excellent  Highland 
gentleman,  and  a  most  indulgent  landlord ;  and  in  an  age  when 
the  necessities  of  the  many  are  sometimes  sacrificed  to  the  pleasures 
of  the  few — in  an  age  when  game  on  Highland  properties  frequently 
assumed  a  greater  importance,  considering  the  population,  than  it 
ought  to  assume — there  was  nothing  of  the  kind  to  be  found  on 
his  property  in  Skye.  (Cheers.) 

The  Chairman  briefly  acknowledged  the  compliment. 

Captain  Scobie  gave  the  health  of  the  Croupiers,  which  was 
acknowledged  by  Mr.  Jolly. 

Mr.  William  Mackay,  solicitor,  proposed  in  very  complimentary 
terms  the  health  of  the  Secretary,  Mr.  William  Mackenzie,  who,  he 
said,  conducted  the  work  of  the  Society  in  a  manner  so  efficient  and 
admirable  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  over-estimate.  (Cheers.) 

Mr.  Mackenzie,  in  a  word,  acknowledged  the  compliment. 

The  Chairman  then  gave  "  Good  Night,"  and  the  meeting 
separated. 

Gaelic  and  English  songs  were  sung  in  the  course  of  the  even- 
ing by  Mr.  Jas.  Fraser,  Mauld ;  Mr.  W.  Jolly,  Mr.  J.  Maclean,  and 
Mr.  J.  Whyte,  Inverness ;  and  Pipe-Major  Maclennan  greatly 
enhanced  the  pleasure  of  the  meeting  by  discoursing  some  excellent 
bagpipe  music. 

The  proceedings  altogether  were  highly  enjoyable. 

28-TH  JANUARY,  1880. 
At  this  meeting  office-bearers  for  1880  were  nominated. 


94  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

It  was  unanimously  resolved  to  send  the  congratulations  of  the 
Society  to  Mrs.  Mary  Mackellar,  the  Society's  Bard,  on  the  publi- 
cation of  her  Gaelic  and  English  Poerus  and  Songs,  in  a  handsome 
volume ;  and  the  Secretary  was  instructed  to  send  a  circular  to  the 
members  of  the  Society,  drawing  their  attention  to  this  publication, 
and  suggesting  to  them  the  desirability  of  their  becoming  purchasers 
of  it. 


4TH  FEBRUARY,  1880. 

Office-bearers  were  elected  at  this  meeting.  The  action  of  the 
Federation  of  Celtic  Societies,  in  discussing  political  matters  (such 
as  the  land  question,  and  the  reduction  of  the  franchise  in  counties) 
at  their  annual  meeting  was  considered.  Several  of  the  members 
expressed  themselves  as  being  personally  in  harmony  with  the 
views  expressed  at  the  Federation  meeting  ;  but  they  held  that  it 
was  inexpedient  for  the  Federation  to  discuss  political  questions. 
A  resolution  was  passed  to  the  effect  that  the  Federation  went 
beyond  its  constitution  in  discussing  these  questions.  It  was, 
however,  unanimously  agreed  to  co-operate  with  the  Federation  in 
dealing  with  such  matters  as  Gaelic  in  Schools,  the  Inspectors' 
Reports  with  regard  to  Gaelic,  just  then  published  in  the  Educa- 
tional Blue  Book,  and  other  matters. 


HTH  FEBRUARY,  1880. 

At  the  meeting  on  this  date  the  Secretary  announced  the  follow- 
ing donations  to  the  Society's  Library,  viz. : — John  Hill  Burton's 
History  of  Scotland  (9  vols.),  and  Burt's  Letters  from  the  North  of 
Scotland  (2  vols.),  from  Mr.  Macdonald  of  Skaebost ;  Gunn  on  the 
Harp  in  the  Highlands,  from  Miss  Cameron  of  Innseagan  ;  the 
Poetical  Works  of  Mary  Mackellar,  from  the  Author ;  Genea- 
logical Account  of  the  Highland  Families  of  Shaw,  by  Mr.  Alex. 
Mackintosh  Shaw,  from  the  Author  ;  and  Notice  sur  les  Inscriptions 
Latines  de  1'Irlande,  from  M.  Gaidoz,'  of  the  Revue  Celtique.  On 
the  motion  of  Mr.  Charles  Mackay,  who  presided,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  to  tender  the  thanks  of  the  Society  to  these  donors, 
and  specially  to  thank  Mr.  Macdonald  of  Skaebost  for  the  great 
attention  he  paid  to  the  interests  of  the  Society  during  the  period 
he  held  the  office  of  Chief. 

Thereafter  the  Secretary  read  another  paper,  entitled — 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  95 

LEAVES  FROM  MY  CELTIC  PORTFOLIO. 
VII. 

He  said — I  have  now  given  you  so  many  selections  from  my 
Celtic  Portfolio  that,  while  it  is  becoming  well-nigh  exhausted,  I 
fear  you  are  being  wearied  with  them.  My  only  excuse  for  appear- 
ing before  you  for  the  third  time  this  session  is  that  I  was  unable 
to  get  any  one  else  to  read  a  paper  to-night.  I  will  begin  by  read- 
ing a  Duanag  Chompanais  by  Mr.  F.  D.  Macdonell.  In  the  note 
which  precedes  it  the  Bard  explains  the  circumstances  under  which 
it  was  composed  : — 

Rinneadh  'us  sheinneadh  an  duanag  so  air  Oidhche  Nollaig  o 
chionn  da  bhliadhna  air  do  bheagan  chairdean  a  dh'fhalbh  a 
Cinntaile  's  a  Lochaillse  a  thighinn,  cuid  dhiubh  ficheadan  mile, 
'chur  seachad  na  h-oidhche  sin  maille  rium.  Thachair  gu  'n  robh 
beagan  a  dh-iocshlaint  "  Iain  Fhaide ''  '11  Lochabar  a  stigh  aig  an 
am  ;  's  mar  bu  ghnath  dha  na  suinii  o  'n  tainig  sinn,  chaidh  tar- 
ruing  a  thoirt  air  a'  bhotul ;  's  o  'n  bha  mi  cho  toilichte  'n  ceann 
na  c6isir  mhosgail  mo  mhac-meanmna  cho  freagarrach  's_gu  'n  do 
sheinn  mi  'm  fonn  agus  a  dha  no  trl  'rainn  'n  uair  chaidh  cheud 
ghloine  timchioll ;  'so  'n  chunnaic  mi  gu  'n  thaitimi  iad  gu  sar- 
mhath  ris  na  h-aoidhean,  cha  robh  uair  a  thigeadh  a  ghloine  m'  an 
cuairt  nach  biodh  rann  no  dha  eil'  agam  gus  'n  do  chriochnaicheadh 
an  duanag. 

Air  Fonn — "Let's  be  jovial,  fill  your  glasses." 

Co-sheirm. 

H6  r6  air  falldar  araidh, 
Falldar  i-o  raraidh  h.6. 
Falldar  i  ri-o  raraidh, 
Falldar  i-o  raraidh  ho. 

Eirich  suas  a  Bheau-an-taighe, 

'Us  cuir  car  dhiot  mar  bu  u6s, 
Cuimhnich  gur  i  'nochd  an  Nollaig, 

'S  cuir  am  botul  'n  a  mo  dh6rn. 
Ho  r6,  &c 

Fair  a  bhos  e  le  do  ghaiie, 

Cha  mhisde  sinn  Ian  na  cuaich  ; 
'Dh-fhailteachadh  nan  aoidhean  cairdeil, 

'Chuir  an  daimh  an  so  air  cluiairt. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 


96  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Tha  sinn  a'  so  a  Cinn-taile, 
'S  a  Loch-aillse  's  ailte  snuadh, 

'S  ged  tha  'n  tlr  ud  ga  cur  fasail, 
Theid  ar  gradh  dhi  leinn  an  uaigh. 
Ho  16,  &c. 


An  tlr  bheannach,  ghleannach,  thiorail, 
Ghlacach,  bhiadhchar,  thorach,  aigh, 

An  tlr  luibheach,  dhoireach,  dhosach, 
An  tlr  chnocach,  choireach,  bhlath. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 

An  tlr  ionmhuinn,  c6ir  bhreth  armunn, 
Nach  robh  'n  aicheadh  'dol  fo  chruaidh, 

Cha  robh  teagamh  riamh  'n  am  barrachd; 
'S  ceann  a'  cbabraich  rompa  'suas. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 

Na  fir  thaiceil,  sgaiteach,  ghleusda, 

Sheasmhach,  threubhach  anns  gach  cas, 

'Sgathadh  naimhdean  mar  a'  luachair, 
Toirt  na  buaidhe  mach  's  na  blair. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 

Anns  gach  cuis  's  an  deach  an  dearbhadh, 
Bha  iad  earbsach,  deas  a  ghnath, 

'S  gu'm  bi  iomradh  air  an  euchdan, 
Gus  an  teid  an  c6  'n  a  srnal. 
Ho  r6,  &c, 

'M  bodach  dona  'shearg,  's  a  dhlthich 
Sliochd  nam  milidh  so  chaidh  luaidh, 

Ciod  am  fios  am  faicear  iarmad-s' 
Anns  na  criochan  ud  gle  bhuan. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 

'S  co  a  sheasas  e  's  a  phairtidh, 
Ma  theid  nkmhaid  air  an  t6ir  1 

'S  ciod  an  dion  a  ni  na  f&dh  orr' 
Ach  a'  bh&gleid  bhi  ri  'n  t6in  ] 
Ho  r6,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  97 

B'olc  a  laimhsicheadh  ar  cairdean, 

Faic  !  an  laraichean  gun  che6, 
Ach  gu'm  pill  sinn  'thir  ar  n-e"ibhneis, 

'Xuair  theid  Herod  'chur  fo  'n  fh6d. 
Ho  ro,  &c. 

Cha  chuis-iongantais  ar  cion  d'i, 

'S  i  bhi  trie  a'  dol  tro  'r  smuain, 
'S  gur  ann  innte  tha  ar  sinns'rean, 

'N  a  cuid  cilltean  deas  'us  tuath. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 


'S  gur  i  'n  tir  i  'n  deach  ar  n-arach, 
'N  tus  ar  laithean  ait  gun  bhr6n, 

'S  sinn  gun  churam  oirnn  m'  an  t-saoghal- 
'Cheart  cho  aotrom  ri  na  h-e6in. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 

Tha  iarmad  fhathast  's  an  tlr  ud, 
'Seasaruh  dileas  le'r  luchd  duthch', 

So  i  deoch-slainte  nan  caraid, 

'S  "Bun-Lochabar"  dbiubh  air  thhs. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 

'Us  na'm  faighinn  fhln  an  ceart  uair 
Lan  mo  ghlaice  dheth  a  dh6id, 

Chrathainn  i  gu  cridheil,  cairdeil, 
Gus  an  cuirinn  blaths  'n  a  mhebir. 
Ho  ro,  &c. 

Sud  an  curaidh  's  pailte  buadhan, 
Com  na  h-uaisle  's  glaine  cail, 

Tha  e  ainmeil  anns  gach  talamh — 
'S  iomadh  clach  a  theid  'n  a  charn. 
Ho  ro,  &c. 

Fhuair  e  geire,  lanachd  gliocais, 

'S  barrachd  fiosrachd  dheth  gach  se&rs', 

'S  gabhair  teagasg  as  na  sgriobh  e, 
Fhad  's  bhios  grian  a'  dol  's  na  neoil. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 


98  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Lion  a  ri.th.ist  dhuinn  am  botul, 

Bheir  sinn  frogan  air  an  61, 
'S  biomaid  fearail,  fialaidh,  fosgarr', 

Gus  an  teid  am  ploc  'chur  6irnri. 
Ho  r6,  &c. 

Mr.  Macdonell  also  sends  me  the  following  two  pieces,  which  I 
give  with  his  own  explanations  : — 

DUANAG 

Le  Iain  mac  Mhur'  'ic  Fhearchair  'ic-Rath  a  bha  'n  Cinntaile. 
Rinn  e  'n  duanag  so  air  d'  a  nihnaoi  bhi  cur  as  a  leth  gu'n  robh  e  'n 
a  lunndaire,  's  nach  deanadh.  e  dad  ach  61  'us  caitheamh.  Anns  a' 
cheud  rann  tha  e  a  leth  thalach  air  a  staid.  'S  an  ath  dha  rann  tha 
e  'g  innse  cuid  dheth  na  coireannan  leis  am  beil  i  'g  a  bhodhradh. 
'S  a'  cheathramh  rann  tha  e  'g  aontachadh  leatha.  Ach  's  an  da 
rann  mu  dheireadh  tha  e  tionndaidh  air  a  shail,  's  a'  toirt  gu  a 
cuimhne  nach  bu  bhodach  gun  stath  idir  e  ;  ach  deadh  shealgair  'us 
iasgair  bhradan — buadau  nach  biodh  'an  duine  sam  bith  ach  aim  am 
fior  cheatharnach. 

Form — Tha  mi  tinn,  tinn,  tinn, 

Tha  mi  tinn,  's  mi  fo  airtneil, 
Ged  nach  innis  mi  do  chach 
Ciod  e  fath  m'  am  beil  m'  acain. 

Bha  mi  uair  dheth  mo  shaoghal 

Nach  saoilinn  gu  faicinn 
Mo  chomanndair  bhi  teann  orm, 

'S  a'  bhall  nach  do  chleachd  mi. 
Tha  mi  tinn,  &c. 

Mi  mar  sheann  duine  gun  speis, 
Ged  nach  l&r  dhomh  sin  fhaicinn, 

'S  mi  gun  fheum  fo  na  ghre"in 
Mur  a  h-eigh  mi  air  cairteal. 
Tha  mi  tinn,  &c. 

Mi  gun  chosnadh  na  mo  nadur, 

O'n  Ik  chaidh  mo  bhaisteadh, 
'S  m6r  gu'm  b'  fhearr  mi 's  a'  chill 

Jfti  no  mhill  mi  de  thasdain. 

Tha  mi  tinn,  &c, 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  99 

'S  olc  an  ceile  do  mhnaoi  oig, 

D'  am  bu  choir  a  bhi  beachdail, 
Fear  nach  d'  chum  rithe  riamh 

Bonn  a  riaraicheadh  ceart  i. 

Tha  mi  tinn,  &c. 

Mharbhainn  fiadh,  's  dheanainn  iasgach 

Le  siabadh  na  slaite, 
'S  cha  robh  miochuis  ort  riamh 

Nach  bu  mhiann  learn  a  chasg  dhiot. 
Tha  mi  tinn,  &c. 

Mharbhainn  breac  air  linne  bhuirn, 

Agus  udlaich'  an  Glas-bheinn, 
'S  bhiodh  coileach-dubh  ag*i  o  'n  gheig, 

Moch  mus  eireadh  tu  madainn. 
Tha  mi  tinn,  &c. 


DUANAG 

Le  .Iain  mac  'Mhur'  'ic  Fhearchair  'ic-Eath,  abh  a  'n  Cinntaile, 
air  do  'n  mhnaoi  bhi  'gearan  nach  deanadh  e  flu  na  seilge  fein. 

Fonn — Their  mi  6  ho-ri  ghealladh, 

Hi-ri  u  na  hu-o  £ile, 
Their  mi  6  ho-ri  ghealladh. 

'S  muladach  mi  'n  diugh  ag  e"iridh, 
'S  airsnealach  mo  cheum  ri  bealach. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 

Bi  'dh  mi  fhln  'us  Nic-a-E6saich 
'Falbh  an  comhnuidh  o  na  bhaile. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 

'S  trie  a  laidh  mi  gu  fliuch  fuar  leat, 
'S  gur  a  cruaidh  leam  thu  mar  leannan. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 

Ge  trie  ag  amharc  fear  nan  croc  mi, 
Cha  do  chuir  mi  d6rn  d'  a  fheannadh. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 


1 00  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

Cha  do  chuir  mi  sgian  d'  a  riachadh, 
Cha  mho  reic  mi  'bhian  ri  ceannaich'. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 

'Nuair  nach  fhaigh  e  air  's  a  'ghaoith  mi, 
Glacaidh  e  dhe  m'  aodann  sealladh. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 

'S  bidh  na  mnathan  'gearan  cruaidh  orm, 
Fhaidead  's  o  nach  d'  fhuair  iad  blasad. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 

Mise  mo  bhuachaille  frithe 

'S  iads'  fo  mhi-ghean  a  chion  annais. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 

Sguiridh  mi  nise  dhe  d'  ghiulain, 
Gus  an  teid  an  dubhlachd  thairis. 
Their  mi  6,  &c. 


I  will  next  give  you  "  Deoch-slainte  'n  Oighre,"  the  oighre 
being  one  of  the  Glengarry  family.  The  song  was  composed  by 
John  Kennedy,  a  bard  of  the  district : — 

Chorus — Olaidh  mi  deoch-slainte  'n  oighre, 

'S  toigh  learn  fhin  e  la  's  a  dh-oidhche, 
'Shugh  an  eorna  fear  mo  chaoimhneis, 
'S  cha  teid  fhoighneachd  ciod  i  phris. 

'S  mi  gu'n  61adh  i  's  gu'm  paidheadh 
Do'n  stuth  chruaidh  a  cuach  nan  Gaidheal, 
Olaidh  sinii  deoch-slainte  'n  armuinn, 
Gu  seasamh  an  aite  'linn. 

Gar  deas  an  Gaidheal  an  t-oighre — 
Domhnullach  cho  ard  'sa  shloinnte — 
'S  'nuair  gheibh  e  gu  lamh  an  oighreachd 
Theid  na  Goill  a  choir  fo  chis ! 

!N"a  biodh  dhil  aca  ri  aite 
Na,  oidhche  thorit  air  an  larach, 
Bho  'na  dh'fh6gair  iad  na  h-armuinn 
'Sheasadh  leat  an  Guard  an  righ. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio,  101 

Sealgair  feidh  am  beinn  nan  stuc  thu, 
Maduinn  che6thair  's  e6in  a'  dusgadh, 
Giomhanach  gunna  nacli  diultadh — 
Bi  tu  air  do  ghlim  'san  fhrlth. 


Giomhanach  gunn'  a'  bhe6il  bh6idhich, 

Leagaidh  tu  'n  damh  donn  air  m6intich, 

Sealgair  choilich  dhuibh  a's  gheoidh  thu 

'S  mhealladh  tu  na  r6in  gu  tir. 

Ach  na'n  tigeadh  feum  no  cruadal, 

Dh'  eireadh  Domhuallaich  's  Cloinn  Uaraig- 

Luchd  nan  leadan  donna  dualach — 

Choisneadh  iad  buaidh  anns  an  strlth. 


Dh'  eireadh  Stiubhartaich  bho'n  Apuinn 
'S  Camronaich  bho  thaobh  Loch-Arcaig, 
Le'n  claidheanan  geura  sgaiteach, 

'Tighinn  a  staigh  fo  bhratach  linn. 

Guidheam  beannachd  dhuit  's  buaidh  larach  ; 
Seasamh  suas  air  tus  nan  Gaidheal 
'Chumail  coinneamh  air  na  sraidean, 
Far  an  cluinnte  gairich  phlob. 

Bi  61  ann  's  bi  ce61  's  bi  aighear, 
Treis  air  cluich  air  uird  's  air  cabair, 
'Ruith  as  leum  aig  gillean  gasda, 

Choisneadh  air  luchd  chasag  gill. 

Saoghal  fada  marunn  buan  dut — 
Togail  mail  bho  do  chuid  tuatha — 
'S  seachdainn  leinn  a  h-uile  h-uair 

A  bhios  tu  bhuainn  gun  tighnn  do'n  tir. 

A-uile  h-aon  nach  tog  an  t6sda 
Tionndaibh  an  taobh  mach  de'n  chomhl'  e — 
A  bhean  an  taighe  dun  an  seomar — 
Cha  bhi  h-aon  de'n  t-seorsa  linn. 


1 02  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

The  following  spirited  song,  by  Mr.  F.  D.  Macdonell,  needs  no 
comment : — 

MOLADH   NAN    GAIDHEAL. 

Co-sheirm. 

Hug  o-ho,  laill  o-ho, 

Laill  o-ho,  ro  i, 
Hug  o-ho,  laill  o-ho, 

Laill  o-ho,  ro  i, 
Hug  o-ho,  laill  o-ho 

Laill  o-ho,  ro  i, 
Gur  fearail  na  Gaidheil, 

Mar  b'  abhaist  's  gach  linn. 

Bha  'n  t-urram  a  ghnath 

Aig  na  Gaidheil,  's  gu'm  bi, 
'S  gu'n  canadh  na  Baird  sud, 

O  laithibh  mhic  Fhinn, 
Na  fiurain  neo-sgathach, 

Bhuaidh-ghaireach  's  an  stri, 
'S  iad  cinneadail,  daimheil, 

Ro  chairdeil  's  an  t-sith. 
Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

Gu  faighear  deagh  chliu  orr' 

'S  gach  duthaich  fo  'n  ghrein, 
'S  gu'n  cuirear  air  thus  iad 

'S  gach  turn  agus  euchd, 
'Am  misneach,  'an  cruadal, 

'An  uaisle  's  an  ce"ill, 
'An  onoir,  'am  firinn, 

'S  an  dllseachd  d'  a  reir. 
Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

Na  giomanaich  lughor, 

Bu  shunndach  's  a'  bheinn, 
'S  trie  dhearbh  iad  le  'n  armaibh, 

Bhi  marbhtach  's  an  frith — 
Bi  'dh  'n  coileach  's  a  leannan, 

'S  an  eala  gheal  mhln, 
An  fheadag,  's  a'  ghuilbneach, 

Le  'n  cuims  'dol  a  dhlth. 
Hug  o-ho,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  103 

Bi  'dh  'n  earbag  bheag  luaineach, 

'S  a'  ruadh-bhoc  clis,  fiat, 
'S  an  damh  a  ni  'n  cr6nan, 

Gun  deo  air  an  t-sliabh ; 
'S  'n  am  pilleadh  gu  h-anmoch, 

Gur  tarbhach  an  triall, 
Aig  fleasgaich  nam  m6r-bheann, 

Nach  s6r  cosg  ri  fion. 

Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

Gur  ait  leo  bhi  'g  iasgach, 

'S  an  fhial-mhadainn  chaoin, 
Le  cuileagan  brianach 

Ei  driamlaichean  caol', 
Bi'dh  'm  bradan,  's  a'  gheadag, 

'S  am  breac  air  gach  fcaobh 
Gu  bruachan  'g  an  tarruing 

Aig  clannaibh  mo  ghaoil. 
Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

Gur  maraichean  crodb'  iad, 

Deas,  e61ach  air  'chuan, 
Nach  meataicb  a'  gbaillionn, 

'S  nach  greannaich  am  fuachd, 
'N  uair  bhitheas  na  duilean 

'G  an  sgiursadh  gu  cruaidh, 
Bi  'dh  iadsan  gu  lamh'chair, 

Gun  sgath  air  an  gruaidh. 
Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

Cha'n  ioghnadh  am  barrachd, 

'S  an  aitim  o  'n  d'  bhuain, 
Na  fineachan  fialaidh, 

Bha  fiachail  's  gach  buadh, 
B,o  ainmeil  'an  gliocas, 

'Am  misneach,  's  an  cruas, 
'S  'n  uair  b'  fheumail  bu  sgaiteach 

Na  gaisgich  'chur  ruaig. 

Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

Na  'n  cluinneadh  iad  namhaid 

'Cur  cais  air  an  t\r, 
Gu  faict'  o  gach  aird  iad, 

A  tearnadh  'n  am  mill, 


104  Gaelic  Society  of  In  vern ess. 

Gu  breacanach,  armaichte, 

Tarbhanta,  grinn, 
Fo  brataitcliean  balla-bhreac', 

'S  ri  garbh-phort  nam  piob. 
Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

Bu  fhlathail  na  h-armuinn, 

A'  fagail  an  glinn, 
A  chosnadh  buaidh-larach, 

Mar  b'  abhaist  dhaibh  bhl, 
'S  gur  trie  thug  iad  crathadh 

Air  cathraichean  righ, 
'S  cha  philleadh  gu  'n  duthaich 

Gun  chumhnantan  slth'. 
Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

'N  uair  tharladh  dhiubh  c6isir 

'An  se6mar  nam  plos, 
Bu  chridheil  m'  an  61  iad, 

Ri  6rain  'g  an  seinn, 
Fir  mhanranach,  che61raidheach, 

Ch6mhraidhteach,  ghrinn, 
A  thraghadh  na  buideil, 

'S  nach  sgrubadh  a'  phris. 

Hug  o-ho,  &c. 

'N  uair  ghlacas  am  Bas  mi, 

'N  aon  kite  'g  am  bl, 
Gu'n  guidhinn-se  Gaidheil, 

Bhi  lathair  mo  chrich' 
Bhi  righeadh  mo  chnaimhean, 

'S  a'  sgaileadh  mo  chinn, 
'S  mo  ghiulan,  's  mo  charadh 

Fo  'n  fhad  anns  a'  ChilL 
Hug  5-h6,  &c. 


The  following  is  a  Marbhrann   by  a  Kintail  bard   to  John 
Breac  MacRae,  also  a  Kintail  man  : — 

Gu'm  beil  m'  inntinn-se  trom, 
'Us  cha  sheinnear  learn  fonn, 
Thionndaidh  'n  aitreabh  rium  lorn  's  'n  a  claraich. 
Gu'm  beil,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  105 

Gu'm  beil  m'  aigneadh  fo  ghruaim, 
'Us  gur  fada  o  'n  uair, 
M'  an  aitreabh  's  an  d'  fhuair  mi  m'  arach. 
Gu'm  beil,  &c. 

An  diugh  cinneadh  mo  ruin, 
Air  an  d'  imich  an  cliu, 
'S  trie  mi  'n  ionad  fir  dhiubh  o  'n  dh'  fhas  mi. 
An  diugh,  &c. 

Cha  V  e  bhi  'n  dubhar  gun  ghrein, 
Fath  m'  udhair  gu  leir, 
Thuit  mi  cumha  luchd  speis  mo  mhanrain. 
Cha  b'  e,  &c. 

'S  ann  dheth  'n  fhearann  so  shios, 
Dh'  fhalbh  uainn  ceannas  nan  cliar, 
'S  ann  fear  baile  na  'n  iarrta  'n  airidh. 
'S  ann  dheth,  &c. 

Tur  uasal  mo  ghaoil, 
Chaidh  thuairgneadh  le  aog, 
'S  ann  'nad  ghruaidh  a  bha  aoidh  nan  cairdean. 
Tur  uasal,  &c. 

'S  na  'm  b'  fhear  ealaidh  mi  fein, 
Mar  mo  bharail  gu  geur, 

'S  ann  ort  a  b'  fhurasd  dhomh  centaidh  aireamh. 
'S  na  'm  b'  fhear,  &c. 

Gu  robh  geire  ni  's  leor, 
Ann  an  eudan  an  t-seoid, 
'S  bu  cheann  reite  do  ghloir  'an  Gailig. 
Gu  robh  geire,  &c. 

Fath  mo  chlisgidh  's  gu'm  b'  f  hiu, 
Uainn  a  nise  's  an  uir, 
Aon  fhichead  o'n  phus  thu — 's  gearr  e. 
Fath  mo  chlisgidh,  &c. 

'S  mor  na  gibhtean  's  a'  chiall, 
Chaidh  'nad  chiste  fo  dhion, 
Thug  sud  iteach  a  sgi'ath  an  a  laich. 
'S  mor  na  gibhtean,  &c. 


1 06  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

Do  bhrigh  mo  radhairc  o  thus, 
Bu  trie  an  tadhal  sin  dhuinn, 
'N  t-slat  a  thaghainn  a  grunnd  na  pairce. 
Do  bhrigh,  &c. 

Cia  mar  dh'  fheud  i  bhi  dhith, 
Ach  Dia  bhi  reiteach  gach  cuis, 
Bu  trie  sgeula  nan  fhiuran  aluinn. 
Cia  mar  d'  fheud,  &c. 

'S  geur  an  snaidheadh  o'n  tuaidh, 
Bhi  cur  Iain  's  an  uaigh, 
'S  bochd  an  naigheachd  do  thuath  Chinntaile. 
'S  geur  an  snaidheadh,  &c. 

Bha  do  chinneadh  fo  ghruaim, 
'S  iad  air  linne  leat  suas, 
Air  an  tilleadh  bu  chruaidh  leo  d'  fhagail. 
Bha  do  chinneadh,  &c. 

Bha  do  dheirbhleinean  broin, 
Mar  ghairm  sheillein  'an  torr, 
'N  deigh  na  meala,  no  mar  eoin  gun  mhathair. 
Bha  do  dheirbhleinean,  &c. 

Nise  's  tuirseach  an  eigh, 
Gun  am  furtachd  ac'  fein, 
'S  mor  a  thuiteas  dhiubh  'n  deigh  do  laithean. 
Mse  's  tuirseach,  &c. 

'S  mor  an  aireamh  's  a  chall, 
Cha  do  thearuinn  mi  ann, 
'S  cia  mar  thearnas  mi  'n  am  a  phaidhidh. 
'S  mor  an  aireamh,  &c. 

Tha  do  cheile  fo  sprochd, 
'S  i  neo-eibhinn,  gun  sog, 
Meud  a  creuchdan  's  a  lot  ri  aireamh. 
Tha  do  cheile,  &c. 

B'  fhiach  a  h-uidheam  's  a  pris, 
Fhad  's  a  luighigeadh  dh'  i, 
Ach  na  ghuidheadh  le  Kigh  nan  Gras  thu. 
B'  fhiach,  &c. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  107 

Thuit  i  'cumlia  do  dheigh, 
Mar  bhios  puthar  gun  leigh, 
'Us  nach  suidhich  i  ceile  d'  aite. 
Thuit  i  'cumha,  &c. 

A  Mhic  Mhoire  nan  Gras, 
A  dhoirt  d'  fhuil  air  n-ar  sgath, 
Gu'm  a  duineil  'n  a  aite  'phaisdean. 
A  Mhic  Mhoire,  &c. 

The  following  spirited  verses  describe  what  the  old  Highlanders 
regarded  as  the  good  points  of  a  Highland  cow  : — 

Ged  bha  barail  nil'  aig  each, 
Gu'n  robh  mise  traight'  air  tir, 
Bha  mo  phocasa  gle  Ian, 
'S  gun  mo  lamh  ri  ite  pinn. 

Bheir  mi  ho  air  m'  urrainn  ho, 

Bheir  mi  ho  air  m'  urrainn  fhein, 

Bheir  mi  ho  air  m'  urrainn  ho, 

Thogainn  fonn  's  gu  'n  ceannaichinn  spreidh. 

Chuir  mi  duil  's  a'  cheird  ro  mhor ; 
Na'm  biodh  mo  storas  d'  a  reir, 
Dh'  fhagadh  e  coig  bliadhn'  mi  og, 
Grainnein  dhrobh  's  iad  bhi  learn  fhein. 
Bheir  mi  ho,  &c. 

Dh'  aithn'chinn  an  t-agh  dubh  a's  ruadh, 
Donn  's  air  suaicheantas  am  bein ; 
'S  na'm  fanadh  na  prisean  suas, 
Chuirinnse  m'an  cuairt  an  ceum. 
Bheir  mi  ho,  &c. 

I  bhi  leathann  os  a  cionn, 
Goirid  bho  'da  shuil  gu  beul ; 
Fionnadh  fada,  dubh,  's  e  dluth, 
'S  nach  b'  airde  fo  'glun  na  mo  reis. 
Bheir  mi  ho,  &c. 

An  aiseann  fada,  domhain,  crom, 
'S  i  truiste  na  'com  air  an  fheill, 
Togail  innte  suas  gu  'barr, 
'S  i  aigeannach  na  'nadur  fein. 
Bheir  mi  ho,  &c. 


108  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Adharc  fhada,  ghorm  no  dhearg, 
Cluas  mhor  a's  earball  d'a  reir, 
Speir  dhireach  's  i  molach  garbh — 
Bhiodh  e  searbh  mur  biodhmaid  reidh. 
Bheir  mi  ho,  &c. 


The  following  compositions,  in  Gaelic  and  English,  on  the 
Thistle  were  composed  by  Evan  MacColl  (the  Mountain  Minstrel) 
for  a  Caledonian  gathering  in  his  Canadian  home  a  few  years  ago, 
and  are  all  well  worthy  of  a  corner  here  : — 

AM   FOGHNAN. 

'S  e  foghnan  na  h-Alba,  lus  ainmeil  nam  buadh, 

Lus  grinn  nan  dos  calgach  thug  dearbh  air  bhi  cruaidh, 

Seann-suaicheantas  morail  tir  bhoidheach  mo  luaidh — 

'S  trie  dh'  fhadaidh  a  deagh-chliu  tein'-eibhinn  'na  m'  ghruaidh. 

Lus  deas  nam  meur  crochdach  nach  leonar  le  stoirm, 
Ged  's  ionann  teachd  gearr  air  's  laoch  dana  fo  arm, 
'S  leis  cloimh  tha  cho  maoth-gheal  ri  faoileig  na  traigh, 
'S  barr-guchdan  co  ciuin-ghorm  ri  suilean  mo  ghraidh. 

Mo  dhuthaich  !  cha'n  ioghnadh  mor-chliu  air  thigh'n  bhuait, 
'S  a  liuthad  buaidh-larach  's  deagh-ghnath  tha  ris  fuaight', 
An  cian  is  le  Albainn  luchd  seanachais  no  baird 
Bidh  meas  air  a  dhealbh  anns  gach  gorm-bhoineid  aird. 

Mo  bheannachd  gu  brath  air  !  Co'n  Gaidheal  no'n  Gall 

Nach  seasadh  gu  bas  e,  ga  thearnadh  bho  chall ! 

Co,  iosal  no  uasal,  bheir  cluas  do  mo  dhan 

Nach  oladh  learn  "  Buaidh  leis/'  a  cuachaibh  's  iad  Ian  ! 

THE  THISTLE. 

John  Bull,  if  he  likes,  may  get  smothered  in  roses — 

The  odour  of  leek  give  to  Cambrian  noses  ; 

Let  Pat  praise  the  grace  which  the  shamrock  discloses — 

The  bonnie  blue  Thistle  of  Scotland  for  me  ! 
Its  stern  "  Nemo  me  irnpune  lacessit " 
Has  just  the  right  ring  for  the  race  who  caress  it ; 
They  aye  come  to  grief  who  too  rudely  would  press  it — • 

The  bonnie  blue  Thistle  of  Scotland  for  me  ! 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio.  109 

Fierce  kings  from  far  Lochlin,  to  break  or  to  bend  it, 
Oft  tried  all  their  might — vow'd  by  Odin  to  end  it ; 
Let  Luncarty,  Largs,  show  what  luck  them  attended — 

The  bonnie  blue  Thistle  of  Scotland  for  me  ! 
The  Saxon  next  tried  with  the  rose  to  supplant  it, 
But  found  a  reception  ne'er  dream'd  of  or  wanted  ; 
Retreat  or  a  grave  was  just  all  he  was  granted  ! — 

The  bonnie  blue  Thistle  of  Scotland  for  me  ! 

Our  emblem — true  blue  as  the  heaven  above  it — 

What  bard  worth  the  name  would  not  proudly  sing  of  it  ? 

What  patriot  heart  would  not  bless  it  and  love  it  ? — 

The  bonnie  blue  Thistle  of  Scotland  for  me  ! 
Well,  well  may  the  sons  of  St.  Andrew  revere  it, 
All  Scotsmen  delight  in  their  bonnets  to  wear  it, 
And  proudly  defy  any  symbol  to  peer  it — 

The  bonnie  blue  Thistle  of  Scotland  for  me  ! 


I  will  conclude  by  quoting  Sheriff  Nicolson's  spirited  "  High- 
land Marching  Song,"  in  imitation  of  the  style  of  Mhac-Mhaighstir 
Alasdair's  "  Agus  0  Mh6rag  :" — 

Now  we're  ready  for  the  march, 
Slop  your  arms,  and  step  together ! 
Chorus — Agus  0  Mh6rag, 

Horo,  march  together ! 

Agus  0  Mh6rag ! 

Keep  your  fours  and  march  in  order, 
Singing  chorus  altogether. 

Lift  your  heads  and  step  out  proudly, 
Look  not  down,  or  round  about  you. 

He  that  wears  a  kilt  should  be 
Erect  and  free  as  deer  on  heather. 

When  he  hears  the  bagpipe  sound, 

His  heart  should  bound  like  steed  for  battle. 

Think  of  them  who  went  before  us, 
Winning  glory  for  the  tartan  ! 


110 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


Vainly  did  the  mighty  Roman 
Check  the  Caledonian  valour ; 

Still  from  each  unconquered  glen 
Rose  the  men  no  yoke  could  fetter. 

With  the  Bruce  they  drew  the  sword, 
On  the  go-ry  field  of  Bannock. 

In  the  ranks  of  great  Gustavus 
With  the  bravest  they  were  reckoned. 

'Neath  the  banners  of  Montrose 
Like  a  storm-cloud  swept  the  tartan  ; 

And  when  fell  Dundee  victorious, 
On  Rinrorie's  blood-stained  heather. 

In  the  steps  of  Royal  Charlie 
Many  a  laurel  did  they  gather, 

From  the  route  on  Preston  brae 
Till  the  day  of  black  Culloden  : 

And  in  Fortune's  darkest  hour 
Closer  round  him  did  they  rally 

On  the  field  of  Fontenoy 

They  held  nobly  up  their  banner. 

Thy  green  earth,  Ticonderoga, 
Keeps  their  glory  fresh  for  ever. 

At  Quebec  their  pibroch  shrill 
Up  the  hill  went  breathing  terror. 

On  the  sands  of  Aboukir 

Rang  their  cheer  mid  hail  of  bullets. 

When  Sir  Ralph  the  good  and  brave, 
On  Iskandria's  plain  was  stricken, 

Heedless  of  life's  ebbing  tide, 
He  stood  beside  his  Forty-Second. 


A.D.  79-420. 


24  June,  1314. 
1629-32. 

1644-46. 

27  July,  1689. 


21  Sept.,  1745,  to  16  April,  1746. 


42nd, 
11  May,  1745. 


42nd, 
7  July,  1758. 


Eraser's  Highl.  (then  78th), 
13  Sept.,  1759. 


42nd,  79th,  92nd, 
8  March,  1801. 


42nd,  79th,  92nd, 
21  March,  1801. 


Leaves  from  my  Celtic  Portfolio. 


Ill 


Many  were  their  deeds  of  arms 
'Gainst  the  swarms  of  Hyder  Ali. 

The  grim  fort  of  Savendroog 
They  refused  not  to  adventure  ; 

And  the  dizzy  rock  they  scaled, 
Which  none  dared  before  or  after 


71st  and  72nd, 
21  Dec.,  1791. 


73rd, 

May,  1783— 
30  Jan.,  1784. 


Leagured  close  in  Mangalore, 
Tippoo  and  his  hordes  they  baffled  : 

And  the  Sahib's  cruel  power 
'!N"eath  Seringa's  towers  they  buried. 

First  of  many  a  field  of  war, 
Where  great  Arthur  ruled  the  battle, 

Do  their  colours  tell  the  tale 
Of  the  famous  fight  of  Assaye. 

So  the  story  is  of  Maida, 

Where  the  pride  of  France  they  levelled     4  July> i806- 


73rd  and  74th, 
4  May,  1799. 


74th,  78th, 
23  Sept.,  1803. 


78th, 


On  Corunna's  bloody  shore  42nd,  nst,  92nd, 

Their  onset  gladdened  Moore  in  dying ;        16  Jan>)  1809- 

And  on  many  a  field  of  Spain, 
To  their  ancient  fame  they  added  : 


aTalavera,  iFuentes  d'  Onor, 
cVittoria,  ^Salamanca  ! 

eBadajoz,  /Ciudad  Rodrigo, 
^Pyrenees,  and  ASan  Sebastian  ! 

When  they  crossed  the  iBidassoa, 
Still  before  them  Soult  retreated  : 

Nivelle — Nive — Orthes — /cToulouse — 
Scarce  the  Muse  their  steps  can  follow  ! 

On  the  slopes  of  Quatre  Bras 

The  Frenchmen  saw  them  stand  unbroken. 


a79th,  91st,  27-28  July,  1809. 
&42nd,    71st,    74th,    79th,    92nd, 

5  May,  1811. 

c71st,  74th,  92nd,  21  June,  1813. 
d74th,  79th,  22  July,  1812. 

e/74th,  6  April,  19  Jan.,  1812. 
er42nd,  71st,  74th,  79th,  91st,  92nd, 

28  July,  1813. 
A92nd,  31  Aug.,  1813. 


*42nd,  71st,  74th,  79th,  91st 

92nd,  7-9  Oct.,  1813. 
frlO  April,  1814. 


42nd,  71st,  73rd,  79th,  92nd, 
16  and  18  June,  1815. 


112 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


On  the  day  Of  Waterloo  42nd,  71st,  73rd,  79th,  92nd, 

The  pibroch  blew  where  fire  was  hottest.          16  and  18  June-  1815- 


When  the  Alma  heights  were  stormed, 
Foremost  went  the  Highland  bonnets, 

And  before  their  "  thin  red  line  " 

The  Cossack  rider  turned  and  vanished.      25  °ct->  i854. 


42nd)  79th,  gsrd, 
2osept.,'i854.' 


93rd, 


When  on  India's  burning  plains 
Dearly  saved  was  Britain's  honour, 

Outram,  Havelock,  and  Clyde, 
Led  the  Highlanders  to  conquest. 

Joyful  rang  the  pibroch  loud 

Through  the  sounding  streets  of  Lucknow, 

And,  like  angels  sent  to  save, 
Came  the  brave  ones  to  the  succour. 

When  Ashantees  savage  lord 
Loosed  his  dusky  hordes  for  havoc, 

Through  Adansi's  horrid  wood 
In  order  good  they  led  the  battle ; 

And  their  stately  tramp  awakened 
Thy  forsaken  streets,  Coomassie  ! 

As  it  was  in  days  of  yore, 
So  the  story  shall  be  ever  : 

Where  the  doughtiest  deeds  are  dared, 
Shall  the  Gael  be  forward  pressing  : 

Where  the  Highland  broadsword  waves, 
There  shall  graves  be  found  the  thickest. 

But  when  they  have  sheathed  the  sword, 
Then  their  glory  is  to  succour  ; 

Hearts  that  scorn  the  thought  of  fear 
Melt  to  tears  at  touch  of  pity  ; 


July,  1857-Nov.,  1858. 


78th,  25  Sept.,  1857. 
42nd,  78th,  79th,  93rd, 
19  March,  1858. 


I  42nd  (with  135  of  the  79th), 
>     31  Jan.,  1874. 


4  Feb.  ,1874. 


Leaves  from  my  Oe/tic  Portfolio.  113 

Hands  that  fiercest  smite  in  war 
Have  the  warmest  grasp  for  brothers  j 

And  beneath  the  tartan  plaid 
Wife  and  maid  find  gentlest  lover. 

Think  then  of  the  name  ye  bear, 
Ye  that  wear  the  Highland  tartan  ! 

Jealous  of  its  old  renown, 

Hand  it  down  without  a  blemish  ! 

Agus  0  Mhorag, 
Horo,  march  together  ! 
Agus  0  Mh6rag  ! 

18ra  FEBRUARY,  1880. 
The  business  at  this  meeting  was  purely  of  a  routine  character. 

21si  APRIL,  1880. 

At  this  meeting  the  Secretary  stated  that  he  had  received  for 
the  Society's  Library  a  copy  of  a  new  translation  of  Buchanan's 
"  Latha  'Bhreitheanais,"  the  translator  and  donor  being  the  Rev. 
John  Sinclair,  Kinloch-Eannoch. 

28-TH  APRIL,  1880. 

At  this  meeting  Mr.  Mackay  D.  Mackenzie,  National  Provincial 
Bank,  Newport,  Monmouthshire,  was  elected  an  honorary  member, 
and  Mr.  George  Miller  Sutherland,  Wick,  and  Mr.  D.  Cameron, 
Blairour,  Aonachan,  by  Kingussie,  ordinary  members.  Thereafter 
Mr.  William  Mackay,  solicitor,  Inverness,  read  the  following 
paper : — 

THE  STKATHGLASS  WITCHES  OF  1662. 

In  the  year  1563  an  Act  was  passed  by  the  Scottish  Parliament 
ordaining  that  those  who  dealt  in  witchcraft,  sorcery,  or  necro- 
mancy, and  those  who  consulted  with  such  persons,  should  be 
punished  with  death.  This  statute,  which  remained  unrepealed 
till  1736,  was  the  source  of  untold  and  incredible  cruelty  and  blood- 
shed. During  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries  the  belief  in 
witchcraft  was  universal.  Every  one,  from  the  king  to  the  peasant, 

8 


114  Qaeflc  Society  of  In  verness. 

lived  under  its  baneful  influence,  and  the  clergy — acting  up  to  the 
express  letter  of  the  Scripture  precept,  "  thou  shalt  not  suffer  a 
witch  to  live  " — were  specially  earnest  and  diligent  in  seeking  out 
and  bringing  to  judgment  such  as  were  supposed  to  have  inter- 
course with  the  Evil  One.  The  principal  victims  were  poor  and 
decrepid  old  women,  vast  numbers  of  whom  were  tortured  to  make 
the  requisite  confessions,  and  then,  on  the  plea  of  those  confessions, 
hanged  or  burnt  at  the  stake.  The  General  Assembly  of  the 
Church  issued  acts  and  instructions  regarding  the  sin,  which  were 
scattered  broadcast  over  the  land;  and  thus  we  find  that,  in  1640, 
it  was  ordained  "  that  all  ministers  within  the  kingdom  carefully 
take  notice  of  charmers,  witches,  and  all  such  abusers  of  the  people, 
and  urge  the  Acts  of  Parliament  to  be  executed  against  them  " ; 
and  three  years  later  the  Assembly,  "  taking  to  heart  the  abundance 
and  increase  of  the  sin  of  witchcraft  in  all  the  sorts  and  degrees  of  it," 
recommended  "  that  a  standing  Commission  for  a  certain  time  be  had 
from  the  Lords  of  Secret  Council  or  Justice  General,  to  some  under- 
standing gentlemen  and  magistrates  within  the  bounds  of  presby- 
teries, that  should  crave  it,  giving  them  power  to  apprehend,  try, 
and  execute  justice  against  such  persons  as  are  guilty  of  witchcraft 
within  these  presbyteries."  Days  of  humiliation  were  observed  on 
account  of  the  supposed  evil,  and  presbytery  and  session  records 
bristle  with  trials  of  suspected  persons  who,  if  found  deserving  of 
being  cut  off  from  Christian  communion,  were  afterwards  given  over 
to  the  more  deadly  attentions  of  the  criminal  courts. 

Strange  as  it  may  appear,  it  was  in  the  southern  counties,  where 
orthodoxy  of  the  strictest  type  held  sway  in  those  times,  that  the 
full  force  of  the  anti- witchcraft  storms  was  felt ;  but  an  occasional 
blast  of  those  southern  gales  found  its  way  across  the  Grampians. 
Thus  we  find  that,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Dingwall, 
held  in  that  burgh  on  28th  August,  1649,  a  communication  from 
the  General  Assembly  was  read,  ordaining  a  fast,  one  of  the  reasons 
being  "  the  continuance  and  increase  of  sin  and  profanity,  especi- 
ally of  the  sin  of  witchcraft "  ;  and  instructions  from  the  Commis- 
sion of  the  Assembly  repeatedly  appear  in  the  Presbytery  records 
to  the  effect  that  witches  on  trial  are  not  to  be  sworn — the  idea 
apparently  being  that,  as  the  Prince  of  Darkness  was  the  only  lord 
and  master  whom  those  persons  professed  to  serve,  it  would  be 
blasphemous  as  well  as  useless  to  administer  to  them  the  oath 
which  Christians  are  considered  to  respect. 

During  the  troubles  that  filled  the  period  between  the  death  of 
Charles  the  First  and  the  restoration  of  Charles  the  Second  in 
1660,  there  was  a  lull  in  the  activity  of  the  witch-hunters,  and 
accordingly  the  latter  event  found  a  great  accumulation  of  old. 


The  Strathglass  Witches  of  7682.  115 

women  whose  presence  was  supposed  to  curse  the  land,  and  whose 
removal  to  another  place  was  deemed  necessary.  The  return  of  the 
Merry  Monarch  brought  no  joy  to  those  poor  beings.  Immediately 
on  the  restoration  the  Privy  Council  issued  a  great  number  of  com- 
missions to  gentlemen  in  every  shire,  and  almost  in  every  parish, 
in  Scotland  ;  and  in  about  two  years  the  land  was  swept  of  hundreds 
of  wretched  beings,  who  were  tortured  and  put  to  death,  the  most 
eminent  statesmen,  clergymen,  and  lawyers  taking  part  in  the  pro- 
ceedings. Of  those  commissions  perhaps  the  most  remarkable  was 
one  issued  to  try  a  batch  of  witches  in  Strathglass,  of  which  the 
object  of  this  paper  is  to  give  an  account,  and  to  which  I  shall  now 
advert. 

Previous  to  1662  a  colony  of  Macleans  had  for  ages  been  settled 
as  kindly  tenants  on  The  Chisholm's  estates  in  Strathglass.  In 
that  year  a  number  of  them,  if  not  the  whole,  were  accused  of 
witchcraft,  and  taken  in  hand  by  Alexander  Chisholm  of  Comer 
(The  Chisholm  of  the  time),  with  the  approval,  apparently,  of  the 
ministers  and  gentlemen  of  the  parishes  of  Kilmorack  and  Kiltar- 
lity,  within  which  the  Macleans  resided.  At  that  time,  as  we  are 
told  by  the  Kev.  James  Fraser  of  Kirkhill,  who  probably  was  an 
eye-witness  of  the  scenes  which  he  describes,  "  there  came  to 
Inverness  one  Mr.  Paterson,  who  had  run  over  the  kingdom  for 
trial  of  witches,  and  was  ordinarily  called  '  The  Pricker,'  because 
his  way  of  trial  was  with  a  long  brass  pin.  Stripping  them  naked, 
he  alleged  that  the  spell  spot  was  seen  and  discovered.  After 
rubbing  over  the  whole  body  with  his  palms  he  slipt  in  the  pin ; 
and  it  seems,  with  shame  and  sorrow  being  dashed,  they  felt  it  not, 
but  he  left  it  in  the  flesh  deep  to  the  head  and  desired  them  to  find 
and  take  it  out.  It  is  said  some  witches  were  discovered,  but 
many  honest  men  and  women  were  bloated  and  broke  by  this  trick. 
In  Elgin  there  were  two  killed  ;  in  Forres  two ;  and  one,  Isobel 
Duff,  a  rank  witch,  burned  in  Inverness.  This  Paterson  came  up 
to  the  Church  of  Wardlaw  [Kirkhill],  and  within  the  church  pricked 
fourteen  women  and  one  man,  brought  thither  by  The  Chisholm  of 
Comer,  and  four  brought  by  Andrew  Fraser,  Chamberlain  of 
Ferrintosh.  He  first  polled  all  their  heads,  and  amassed  the  heap 
of  hair  together,  hid  it  in  a  stone  dyke,  and  so  proceeded  to  pricking." 

The  witches,  having  thus  been  subjected  to  "a  serious  and 
exact  enquiry"  in  the  manner  customary  at  the  time,  and  The  Chis- 
holm being  satisfied  that  there  was  what  lawyers  call  a  probabilis 
causa  against  them,  an  application  was  made  to  the  Privy  Council 
for  a  Commission  to  try  them  and  put  them  to  death.  The  appli- 
cation was  granted  at  Edinburgh  on  26th  June,  1662,  the  Com- 
missioners being  The  Chisholm,  Colin  Chisholm,  his  brother,  and 


116  Qaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

John,  Valentine,  and  Thomas  Chisholm,  his  cousins,  to  whom  a 
document  was  delivered,  endorsed,  "  Information  how  to  proceid  in 
ye  tryall  of  ye  witches  after  Commissioun  granted  to  judge  them," 
and  dated  12th  June,  1662.  This  document  I  shall  here  quote, 
substituting  the  modern  orthography  for  that  in  which  it  is  written 
— a  liberty  which  I  also  intend  to  take  with  the  other  writings 
which  I  am  to  quote  : — 

"  An  assize  [jury]  must  be  summoned  by  a  warrant  subscribed 
by  the  Commissioners  named  in  the  Commission,  of  fifteen  honest 
men.  A  dempster  of  court  must  be  created  and  sworn ;  and  then  the 
court  [must  be]  fenced.  Then  the  panels  brought,  their  dittay 
[charge]  read.  But  before  the  reading  of  the  dittay,  the  names  of 
the  assizors  [jurors]  must  be  called.  After  the  reading  of  the 
dittay  the  panels  must  be  asked  if  they  confess  the  dittay  to  be 
true.  And  if  they  confess,  the  assize  must  be  called  and  sworn ; 
but  before  they  be  sworn  the  panels  must  be  asked  if  they  have 
anything  to  say  against  them.  After  they  are  sworn  they  must 
enclose  themselves  where  nobody  must  speak  to  them  till  they 
give  out  their  verdict.  The  assize  must  choose  a  Chancellor  [fore- 
man], who  must  pronounce  the  verdict  and  subscribe  it.  And, 
after  all,  the  Commissioners  must  pronounce  their  sentence. 

"  Before  the  Court  be  fenced,  a  procurator-fiscal  must  be  chosen 
and  sworn,  who  must  give  in  the  dittay  and  roll  of  the  assizors  to 
the  clerk,  and  must  take  instruments  upon  their  [the  witches']  con- 
fessions, the  swearing  of  the  assize  and  their  verdict,  and  upon  the 
sentence.  The  sentence  must  run  thus  : — '  That  forasmuch,  &c., 
are  fyld  [found  guilty]  by  an  assize  of  the  homed  crime  of  witch- 
craft contained  in  their  dittay,  therefore  the  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  His  Majesty's  Privy  Council  for  trying  the  persons,  &c., 
do,  by  the  mouth  of  ,  their  dempster,  ordain  and  adjudge  the 

said  persons  to  be  taken  upon  the  day  of  to  the  , 

and  there  they  to  be  strangled  to  a  stake  and  their  body  burnt  to 
ashes,  and  their  moveable  goods  to  belong  to  His  Majesty.' 

"  Before  the  Court  is  fenced  the  Commission  must  be  read,  and 
the  Court  fenced  in  the  King's  and  the  Commissioners'  names." 

The  Chisholms,  as  I  have  said,  received  their  commission  on 
26th  June,  but  their  course  was  checked  in  a  somewhat  unexpected 
manner.  The  Macleans,  in  their  distress,  sought  the  protection 
of  the  chief  of  their  clan — Sir  Allan  Maclean  of  Duart,  in  the 
distant  Island  of  Mull.  Sir  Allan  heartily  responded  to  their  cry, 
and  on  their  behalf  presented  a  petition  to  the  Privy  Council, 
setting  forth  their  cause  and  demanding  justice  for  them,  the 
result  being  that  the  Council  recalled  the  Commission  to  the 
Cbisholms,  and  ordered  them  to  appear  in  Edinburgh  with  the 


The  Strathgfass  Witches  of  1662.  117 

accused.     The  Council's  order  is  lengthy,  but  I  may  be  permitted 
to  give  it  here  : — 

"Ax  EDINBURGH,  the  Third  day  of  July,  1662  years,  anent  a 
petition  presented  by  Sir  Allan  Maclean  of  Dewart,  Knight,  and 
his  curator,  for  himself  and  in  name  and  behalf  of  his  kinsfolk  and 
friends  aftermentioned,  viz.,  Hector  and  Donald  Maclean;  Janet 
Maclean,  spouse  to  John  Maclean ;  Margaret  Maclean,  sister  to  the 
said  Janet  Men  ane  Coell ;  Kathrine  Nien  ane  oar  vie  ean  vie 
Culleam ;  Jonet  Nien  Eory  voie;  Mary  Nie  Finlay  vie  comes; 
Kathrine  Nyn  owan  vie  connoch ;  Mary  Dollor ;  Kathrine  Nein. 
Farquhar  Macean ;  Cormyle  Grant ;  Mary  !Nein  gotine  ;  Bakie  Nien 
ian  dowie  vie  Finlay ;  Christian  Nein  Farquhar  vie  ean  ;  Baikie 
Mclnsh;  Mary  Muarwrie  muish,  and  certain  other  persons  in 
prison,  SHOWING  that  Alexander  Chisholru  of  Comer  ;  Colin  Chis- 
holm,  his  brother ;  John,  Valentine,  and  Thomas  Chisholm,  his 
cousins,  having  conceived  an  inveterate  hatred  against  the  suppli- 
cants because  he  could  not  get  them  removed  from  their  lands  and 
possessions  in  a  legal  way,  whereof  they  have  been  kindly  tenants 
these  two  or  three  hundred  years  bypast,  they  have  most  unjustly 
seized  upon  them,  and  at  their  own  hand,  without  any  order,  yea, 
expressly  against  the  proclamation  issued  out  by  the  Lords  of  Privy 
Council,  have  incarcerated  the  whole  women  above-written  in  the 
said  Alexander  Chisholm  his  own  house,  and  the  said  Hector 
Maclean,  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Inverness ;  and  do  daily  search  after 
the  said  Donald  Maclean,  so  as  he  dare  not  keep  his  own  house ; 
and  not  being  content  therewith,  upon  allegiance  that  they  are 
guilty  of  witchcraft,  they  have  most  cruelly  and  barbarously 
tortured  the  women,  by  waking,  hanging  them  up  by  the  thumbs, 
holding  the  soles  of  their  feet  to  the  fire,  burning  of  them,  and 
drawing  of  others  at  a  horse's  tail,  binding  of  them  with  widdies 
[withes]  about  the  neck  and  feet,  and  carrying  them  so  alongst  on 
horseback  to  prison,  whereby  and  by  other  torture  one  of  them 
hath  become  distracted,  another  of  them  removed  by  death,  and  all 
of  them  have  confessed  whatever  they  were  pleased  to  demand  of 
them  ;  all  which  is  done  against  His  Majesty's  laws  and  authority, 
they  being  His  Majesty's  free  subjects  :  Notwithstanding  whereof, 
as  the  petitioners  are  informed,  they,  upon  the  twenty-sixth  day  of 
June  last  bypast,  have  purchased  from  the  Lords  of  Privy  Council, 
upon  false  allegiances,  a  Commission  to  put  several  of  the  petitioners 
to  death  upon  these  extorted  confessions  upon  torture  more  bitter 
than  death  itself  :  Desiring  therefore  warrant  for  directing  of  letters 
to  charge  the  said  Alexander  Chisholm  and  foresaid  persons  to 
present  the  said  Hector  Maclean  and  remanent  persons  above 


118  Gaelic  Society  of  In  vern  ess. 

specified  before  the  Council,  safe :  And  in  the  meantime  to  dis- 
charge them  and  all  others  from  proceeding  against  the  said  persons 
by  virtue  of  any  former  Commission,  as  the  petition  bears  ;  which 
petition  being  at  length  heard,  read,  seen,  and  considered,  the  Lords 
of  His  Majesty's  Privy  Council  ORDAIN  the  said  Alexander,  Colin, 
John,  and  Thomas  Chisholm  to  be  cited  before  them  to  answer  to 
the  foresaid  complaint,  and  to  exhibit  the  said  petitioners  to  the 
effect  the  said  Lords  may  take  trial  of  the  truth  of  the  premises, 
and  take  such  course  thereon  as  the  cause  shall  require,  under  the 
pain  of  rebellion ;  and  in  the  meantime  have  discharged,  and  by 
these  presents  discharge  the  Commissioners  appointed  for  trying 
and  judging  of  the  said  petitioners,  or  any  of  them,  to  proceed 
against  them  notwithstanding  of  the  Commission  granted  for  that 
effect,  as  they  will  be  answerable  at  their  peril. 
"Extracted  per  me, 

"  PET.  WEDDERBURNK." 

This  order  having  been  served  upon  the  Chisholms,  they  and 
the  ministers  and  gentlemen  of  Kilmorack  and  Kiltarlity  sent  the 
following  "  Supplication "  to  Edinburgh,  and  presented  it  to  the 
Privy  Council : — 

"  To  The  Eight  Honble.  The  Lords  and  Others  of  His  Majesty's 
Most  Honourable  Privy  Council. 

"  The  humble  Petition  of  Alexander  Chisholm  of  Comer, 
of  the  Ministers  and  other  gentlemen  of  the  Parishes 
of  Kilmorack  and  Kiltarlity. 

"  Humbly  Sheweth,— 

"  That  notwithstanding  that  we,  your  Lordships'  supplicants, 
did,  upon  a  most  serious  and  exact  inquiry,  imprison  and  examine 
several  persons  delated  for  witchcraft  within  the  foresaid  parishes, 
and  upon  our  address  made  to  your  Lordships,  and  advice  taken 
from  His  Majesty's  Justice-Deputes,  did  obtain  a  Commission  for 
putting  of  them  to  trial,  yet  the  Laird  Maclean,  a  person  noways 
concerned,  upon  the  information  of  John  MacRorie,  alias  Maclean, 
husband  to  one  of  the  confidents,  and  nearly  related  to  the  rest, 
hath,  by  libelling  most  notour  and  injurious  calumnies,  obtained  a 
warrant  to  cite  over  the  said  Alexander  Chisholm,  one  of  our  number, 
and  to  bring  to  Edinburgh  the  said  delinquents  who,  because 
of  their  decrepidness  and  the  length  of  the  journey,  cannot,  without 
a  long  time  and  much  expense,  be  brought  thither ;  and  if  they 
were  brought  will  fix  a  precedent  throughout  all  the  nation,  which 
would  undoubtedly  burthen  the  whole  leiges  with  great  expense 


The  Strathg/ass  Witches  of  7662,  119 

and  vast  trouble  in  bringing  of  them  there,  and  the  town  of  Edin- 
burgh in  keeping  and  alimenting  of  them  when  they  were  brought, 
especially  considering  that  His  Majesty's  Justice-Deputes  are  shortly 
to  hold  court  in  these  places,  and  that  in  law  cognizance  of  crimes 
is  best  taken  in  the  places  where  they  were  committed. 

'*  May  it  therefore  please  your  Lordships  to  discharge  the 
bringing  over  of  the  said  delinquents,  seeing  the  said 
Alexander  Chisholm,  and  the  others  who  are  alleged  to 
have  tortured  them,  are  content  to  vindicate  themselves 
before  your  Lordships  from  these  aspersions  wherewith 
they  are  so  groundlessly  charged  :  As  also  to  discharge 
the  bringing  over  of  Hector  Maclean,  imprisoned  at 
Inverness  for  theft  and  other  crimes,  seeing  it  is  not 
alleged  that  he  is  tortured,  and  seeing  to  bring  over  such 
as  he  is  were  to  settle  justice  aires  at  Edinburgh." 

In  consequence  of  this  "  Supplication"  the  case  seems  to  have 
been  remitted  to  the  Justice-Depute,  and  he  caused  those  who  were 
alleged  to  have  been  tortured  to  be  brought  to  Inverness,  and  their 
persons  to  be  examined  by  Finlay  Eraser,  one  of  the  baillies  of 
Inverness,  in  presence  of  John  Neilson,  notary  public.  The  result, 
which  is  satisfactory  from  The  Chisholm's  point  of  view,  is  em- 
bodied in  the  following  "  Instrument "  by  the  notary  : — 

"Apud  Invernes  sexto  die  mensis  Octobris,  anno  Domini, 
millesimo  sexcentesimo  sexagesimo  secundo,  et  Eegni 
S.  D.  N".  Eegis  anno  decimo  quarto. 

"  That  day,  in  presence  of  me,  notary  public  underscribing  and 
witnesses  afterspecified,  Compeared  personally  Finlay  Eraser,  one 
of  the  baillies  of  Inverness,  who  passed  with  me  to  the  personal 
presence  of  Christian  nein  Earquhar  vie  Ewen,  Marie  nein  Alister 
vie  Conchie,  Christian  nein  Phaill,  Marie  nein  Gowin,  Bakie  nien 
Ian  duy  vie  Finlay,  Janet  nein  Ian  Chaoil,  Janet  nien  Eorie  buy, 
Donald  oure  M'Phaill,  Gormell  nein  duy,  and  Murell  Dow,  who 
were  apprehended  by  Alexander  Chisholm  of  Comer,  and  panelled 
before  His  Majesty's  Justice-Depute  for  the  crime  of  witchcraft ; 
and,  at  the  direction  of  the  said  Justice-Depute,  did  sight  and  try 
the  hands  and  feet  of  the  forenamed  persons  to  see  if  they  had  any 
mark  of  torturing  on  them,  but  did  see  no  such  mark ;  and  did 
interrogate  them  if  they  had  any  mark  of  torturing  upon  any  part 
of  their  bodies,  and  if  they  had,  to  show  it  him,  which  none  of 
them  could  show  :  In  respect  whereof  the  said  Alexander  Chis- 
holm asked  and  took  instruments  in  the  hands  of  me  notary  public 
underscribing :  This  was  done  at  the  door  of  the  prison  vault  in 


120  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Inverness,  by  nine  hours  in  the  forenoon,  day,  month,  and  year 
foresaid,  in  presence  of  Simon  Fraser,  son  lawful  to  John  Eraser  of 
Glenvaickie;  Alexander  Grant  and  Eobert  Winchester,  merchant 
burgesses  of  Inverness ;  Alexander  MacClacher,  pyner,  and  several 
other  witnesses  to  the  premises  called  and  required. 

"  Et  ego  vero  Joannes  Neilsone,  Notarius  Publicus,  &c. 
(Signed)         "  Jo.  NJEILSONE, 

"  Notarius  Publicus." 

This  instrument  is  the  last  document  which  I  have  been  able  to 
discover  in  connection  with  those  interesting  proceedings ;  and 
probably  their  subsequent  history  cannot  now  be  further  traced. 
We  gather,  however,  from  the  Rev.  James  Fraser,  whom  I  have 
already  quoted,  that  several  of  the  witches  pricked  by  Paterson  at 
Kirkhill,  "  died  in  prison,  being  never  brought  to  confession  " ;  the 
rest — for  the  Commission  for  their  trial  was  not  renewed — escaped 
that  fearful  death  to  which  at  one  time  they  seemed  to  be  doomed. 
This  deliverance  they  undoubtedly  owed  to  the  patriarchal  and 
practical  interest  taken  in  them  by  Sir  Allan  of  Duart,  to  whom,  as 
their  Chief,  they  still  looked  for  protection,  notwithstanding  that 
they  and  their  forefathers  had  been  removed  from  his  country  for 
at  least  "  two  or  three  hundred  years,"  and  that  a  journey  from 
Strathglass  to  Mull  in  those  times  was  a  more  serious  undertaking 
than  a  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  in  our  day.  In  the  annals  of  our 
country  there  is  perhaps  no  case  which  illustrates  better  than  the 
one  now  under  consideration  the  strength  of  that  cord  of  care  and 
confidence  which  in  the  olden  times  bound  together  the  Chief  and 
the  Clan,  and  which  the  more  conservative  of  our  Highland  Chiefs 
still  strive  to  preserve ;  nor  do  I  know  of  any  incident  that  more 
vividly  reflects  the  best  features  of  the  old  clan  system.  In  this 
present  age  of  boasted  "  progress,"  and  cold,  calculating,  and  distant 
dealing  between  the  high  and  the  low,  it  affords  the  student  of  the 
past  no  small  pleasure  to  stumble  upon  such  kindly  deeds  as  the 
exertions  of  Sir  Allan  Maclean,  the  Knight  of  Duart,  to  shield 
from  injustice  his  "  kinsfolk  and  friends,"  Jonet  Nighean  Iain 
Chaoil,  and  Bakie  Nighean  Iain  Duibh  Mhic  Fhionnlaidh,  the 
poor  witches  of  Strathglass. 

Paterson,  the  pricker,  we  are  told,  "gained  a  great  deal  of 
money,  having  two  servants.  At  last  he  was  discovered  to  be  a 
woman  disguised  in  men's  clothes."  He — or  she — was  not  the 
only  person  who  flourished  on  the  villainous  profession  of  *'  dis- 
coverer" of  witches.  At  the  very  same  time  a  wretch  of  the  name 
of  John  Kincaid  pricked  witches  and  made  money  in  the  south  of 
Scotland ;  and  John  Dick,  another  pricker  of  equal  eminence,  made 


Annual  Assembly.  121 

the  district  of  Tain  the  field  of  his  operations.  But  the  growing 
intelligence  of  the  nation  gradually  made  it  impossible  for  such  men 
to  live  ;  the  year  1727  saw  the  last  witch  who  suffered  in  Scotland 
burnt  on  the  Links  of  Dornoch  ;  and  in  1736  the  statute-book  was 
purged  of  the  Act  on  which  were  founded  the  cruelties  and  murders 
that  darken  and  disgrace  the  seventeenth  century. 

5in  MAT,  1880. 

At  this  meeting  Dr.  Hugh  Eraser,  Morven,  Argyllshire,  was 
elected  an  ordinary  member.  The  other  business  was  formal. 

19iH  MAT,  1880. 

At  this  meeting  Mr.  William  Mackay,  solicitor,  and  Mr.  Alex. 
Mackenzie,  of  the  Celtic  Magazine,  were  delegated  to  represent  the 
Society  at  the  meeting  of  the  Federation  of  Celtic  Societies  to  be 
held  on  the  21st  May,  1880,  in  Glasgow. 

26TH  MAT,  1880. 

At  this  meeting  Mr.  Alex.  Mackenzie  reported  that  he  had  at- 
tended the  meeting  of  the  Federation  of  Celtic  Societies  in  Glasgow, 
on  the  2 1st  May,  as  a  delegate  from  this  Society.  That  meeting, 
he  said,  had  resolved  upon  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  make 
arrangements  for  offering  prizes  for  the  collection  of  unpublished 
Gaelic  poetry,  folk-lore,  and  Highland  music. 

The  Secretary  produced  a  copy  of  the  Oranaiche,  which  he  had 
received  from  its  compiler,  Mr.  Archibald  Sinclair,  62  Argyle 
Street,  Glasgow,  as  a  donation  to  the  Society's  Library,  and  he  was 
instructed  to  send  Mr.  Sinclair  the  thanks  of  the  Society  therefor. 

NINTH  ANNUAL  ASSEMBLY. 

The  Ninth  Annual  Assembly  was  held  on  the  evening  of 
Thursday,  8th  July,  1880.  The  meeting-place  was  the  Artillery 
Drill  Hall,  which  was  nearly  full.  Beside  members  of  the  Society, 
there  were  present  a  good  few  attenders  of  the  Wool  Market  and 
others  interested  in  the  gathering.  During  the  assembling  of  the 
audience,  Pipe-Majors  Maclennan,  H.L.I.M.,  and  Mackenzie, 
H.E.M.,  played  selections  of  Highland  music  at  the  entrance  to 
the  Hall:  while  the  pipers  of  the  I.H.E..Y.  marched  through 
the  streets  playing.  The  chair  was  taken  at  a  quarter  to 
eight  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Maclauchlan,  Edinburgh,  the  Chief 
of  the  Society,  and  accompanying  him  to  the  platform  were  : — 


122  Gae/io  Society  of  Inverness. 

Rev.  Alex.  Macgregor,  Inverness;  Rev.  A.  D.  Mackenzie,  Kil- 
niorack ;  Rev.  Mr.  Lee,  Nairn ;  Rev.  A.  C.  Macdonald,  Inverness  ; 
Captain  A.  M.  Chisholm,  Glassburn;  Mr.  Colin  Chisholm,  Inver- 
ness ;  Mr.  H.  C.  Macandrew,  Sheriff-Clerk ;  Ex-Provost  Simpson ; 
Mr.  Charles  Mackay,  Drummond ;  Mr.  Alex.  Mackenzie,  Celtic 
Magazine  ;  Mr.  D.  Ross,  Scinde  and  Punjaub  Railway  ;  Mr.  F. 
Macdonald,  Druidaig ;  Mr.  Walter  Carruthers,  Gordonville ;  Mr. 
Murdoch,  Highlander;  Mr.  Alexander  Ranaldson  Macraild, 
writer,  &c.  Mr.  William  Mackenzie,  the  secretary,  intimated  the 
following  apologies  : — Cluny  Macpherson,  Professor  Blackie,  Sir 
Kenneth  S.  Mackenzie  of  Gairloch,  Bart. ;  Lochiel,  M.P. ;  Mr. 
Mackenzie,  yr.  of  Kintail ;  Mr.  Macdonald  of  Skaebost ;  Mr.  John 
Mackay,  Swansea ;  Mr.  Fraser-Mackintosh,  M.P.  ;  Dr.  Charles 
Mackay ;  Mr.  Charles  Innes,  Ballifeary  House ;  Mr.  Donald 
Davidson  of  Drummond  Park ;  Mr.  Mackenzie,  Auchindunie ; 
Mr.  Mackay,  of  Ben-Reay ;  Dr.  Stratton,  Devonport ;  Major  Grant, 
Drambuie,  &c. 

The  following  was  the  letter  from  Mr.  John  Mackay,  Swansea  :— 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged  by  your  favour  of  the  30th  ult.  just 
received.  From  my  heart  I  regret  that  numerous  pre-engagements 
prevent  me  attending  the  annual  assembly  of  the  Gaelic  Society  on 
the  8th  inst.  I  regret  it  the  more  as  I  shall  be  deprived  of  a  fitting 
opportunity  to  make  the  personal  acquaintance  of  our  Chief,  of  a 
fitting  opportunity,  too,  of  paying  him  the  homage  of  my  sincere 
respect,  and  great  regard  for  him,  for  his  personal  worth,  for  his 
labour  and  works  in  the  field  of  Celtic  literature,  for  his  unswerving 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  his  oppressed  countrymen,  and  for  his  per- 
severing advocacy  of  their  interests  and  requirements,  social,  moral, 
and  intellectual.  He  is  an  Inverness-shire  man.  You  have  a  right 
to  be  proud  of  him,  and  I  am  sure  the  members  of  the  Gaelic 
Society  will  accord  him  such  a  welcome,  and  such  a  reception,  as 
befit  so  good  a  chief,  so  pure  and  noble  a  man,  so  earnest  and  true, 
and  so  enlightened  and  persevering  a  worker  and  advocate,  for 
everything  tending  to  the  advancement  and  prosperity  of  the  Gael. 
Wishing  you  every  success  possible  to  be  attained." 

The  letter  from  Dr.  Charles  Mackay,  dated  from  Fern  Dell, 
Dorking,  was  as  follows  : — 

"  It  would  give  me  great  and  sincere  pleasure  if  I  could  be  pre- 
sent at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness,  to 
which  you  have  sent  me  an  invitation.  Bat  it  is  not  possible  for 
me  to  leave  London  at  present.  I  fear  I  am  but  an  inefficient 
member  of  the  Society ;  but  my  heart  is  with  you  in  all  your 


Annual  Assembly.  123 

efforts  to  keep  alive  on  the  altar  the  old  fire  of  the  Celtic  language, 
and  to  prevent  its  extinction  at  the  hands  of  the  careless  and  ignor- 
ant people  of  the  present  day,  who  do  not  appreciate,  or  even  know, 
the  value  of  the  inheritance  that  has  come  down  to  them  from 
the  most  venerahle  antiquity.  I  wish  the  Scottish  Highlanders 
would  show  a  little  more  energy  in  the  cause,  and  would  imitate 
the  zeal  of  the  Irish  in  preserving  and  disseminating  the  language, 
and  in  enshrining  it  in  the  estimation  and  the  memory  of  the 
learned.  But  I  am  afraid  my  countrymen  are  too  Saxonised  and 
demoralised  to  follow  where  the  Irish  lead  them,  and  that  fewer 
true  Highlanders  are  to  he  found  in  the  Highlands,  than  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada.  The  more  's  the  pity.  I  wish  I  could 
be  present  with  you  to  say  what  I  write,  though  at  ten  times  greater 
length.  But  I  cannot  manage  it." 

Professor  Blackie's  letter  was  as  follows  : — 

"  Altnacraig,  Ohan,  6th  July. 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR, — I  am  sorry  that  an  unlooked-for  complication 
with  a  previous  engagement  must  prevent  me  from  attending  your 
Gaelic  meeting  on  this  occasion.  Nothing  gives  me  so  much  pleasure 
during  the  summer  months  as  taking  part  in  such  an  exhibition  of 
true  Highland  sentiment  as  your  gathering  commands  ;  but  I  must 
school  myself  to  bear  this  and  not  a  few  other  disappointments. 
Besides,  it  is  nothing  that  I  can  do  for  the  Highlanders  now ;  my 
task  is  done ;  and  they  must  help  themselves.  The  Celtic  Chair  is 
now  secure,  and  might  be  started  to-morrow,  if  we  were  as  impatient 
as  some  persons  more  zealous  than  considerate  would  wish  us  to  be. 
Only  let  the  Highlanders  see  to  it  that  the  Gaelic  Bible  be  read, 
and  Gaelic  songs  be  sung  regularly  in  all  the  Highland  Schools ; 
and  everything  else  will  follow.  But  if  they  allow  the  Highland 
soul  to  be  sucked  out  of  them  by  Saxon  schoolmasters,  Saxon  in- 
spectors, and  Saxon  sheep-farmers,  there  is  no  hope  for  them. — 
Ever  yours,  JOHN  S.  BLACKIE." 

The  Professor  was  announced  to  address  the  meeting,  and  his 
absence  was  the  cause  of  evident  disappointment.  The  musical 
part  of  the  programme  was  begun  by  Mr.  Donald  Graham  singing 
Ailean  Dall's  well-known  song,  "  Na'm  faighinn  gille  ri  'cheannach." 
Thereafter,  the  Chief,  Dr.  Maclauchlan,  delivered  the  following 
address : — 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  being  present  at  this  meeting  this  even- 
ing, and  having  an  opportunity  of  speaking  a  word  on  Highland 
subjects  in  this  the  capital  of  the  Highlands.  I  am  myself  a  native 


124  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

of  this  locality,  as  many  of  you  will  know  ;  so  were  my  forefathers 
before  me.  I  believe  that  the  dust  of  my  ancestors  for  many 
generations  will  be  found  lying  in  the  burying-grounds  of  Kirkhill, 
Boleskine,  and  Moy ;  so  that  I  am  a  pure  Inverness-shire  man, 
almost  an  Inverness  man.  (Applause.)  Not  that  I  believe  this 
makes  me  any  better  than  I  otherwise  would  be,  but  it  gives  me  a 
peculiar  interest  in  this  locality.  I  would  not  give  much  for  the 
man  who  has  no  tie  to  places  as  well  as  persons.  At  least  I  would 
not  give  much  for  the  Highlander  who  is  of  that  cast.  I  have 
another  reference  to  make  to  what  is  personal  to  myself.  When 
asked  to  take  the  important  office  which  I  now  hold  in  this  Society, 
I  was  told  that  I  was  asked,  not  as  a  minister,  but  as  a  Highlander 
who  has  some  claims  upon  his  countrymen  of  all  professions  and 
denominations.  Well,  I  had  no  difficulty  about  that.  Not  that  I 
can  cease  to  be  a  minister  or  wish  to  do  it  even  here.  I  am  proud 
of  my  profession.  No  men  have  done  more  than  ministers  for 
Celtic  literature.  I  could  give  you  a  string  of  the  names  of  minis- 
ters famous  in  the  field.  But  I  have  always  striven  to  maintain  a 
position  associated  with  literary  and  national  objects  outside  the 
professional  field.  And  I  never  regretted  it  or  found  myself  the 
worse  of  it.  I  there  had  a  platform  on  which  I  could  meet  men  of 
every  creed  and  profession.  And  never  will  I  forget  the  hearty 
goodwill  with  which  a  worthy  Koman  Catholic  priest  came  up  to 
me,  after  the  publication  of  the  Dean  of  Lismore's  book,  and  con- 
gratulated me,  as  a  Macgregor  which  he  was,  in  doing  so  much  to 
bring  honour  on  his  name  and  Church.  He  knew  well  that  the 
Dean  was  a  Macgregor  and  a  dignitary  of  the  medieval  Church. 
Now,  while  a  minister  by  profession,  and  proud  to  be  one,  I  stand 
here  to-night  as  neither  minister  nor  layman,  neither  Whig  nor 
Tory,  advocating  no  distinctive  creed,  but  solely  as  a  Highlander 
who  has  been  long  and  warmly  interested  in  the  history,  the  litera- 
ture, and  the  general  well-being  of  his  Highland  countrymen,  and 
who  has  tried  to  make  his  voice,  when  he  could,  heard  in  their  be- 
half. (Applause.)  Passing  from  this,  I  have  to  advert  very  briefly 
to  two  or  three  subjects  interesting  to  Highlanders — and  first  of  all, 
their  past  history.  There  is  nothing  in  it  that  is  not  creditable  to 
the  race.  There  is  much,  no  doubt,  that  savours  of  the  times  such 
as  they  were,  but  nothing  that  brings  discredit  on  the  race.  They 
have  always  been  intense,  and  so  they  continue  to  be,  and  will  pro- 
bably while  they  exist.  The  very  early  period  of  their  history  in 
Scotland  comes  down  to  us  with  the  marvellous  story  of  Galgacus, 
as  told  by  Tacitus.  Why,  these  kilted  ancestors  of  ours  measured 
swords  with  the  Romans  !  The  incident  is  as  well  authenticated  as 
any  which  Tacitus  relates  ;  and  more  than  measured  swords  with 


Annual  Assembly.  125 

them,  came  off  victorious.  At  least  the  progress  of  the  Romans 
northwards  was  checked,  and  Agricola  retired  southward  to  his 
winter  quarters.  Nor  did  the  Romans  ever  penetrate  into  the 
heart  of  the  country  again.  They  sailed  round  the  coasts,  and 
formed  a  few  settlements  as  far  north  as  the  county  of  Moray,  hut 
the  heart  of  the  country,  and  particularly  the  Highlands,  remained 
untrodden  and  untouched  during  the  whole  Koman  period.  In 
later  times,  too,  the  Highlanders  took  their  share  in  the  struggles 
that  affected  the  welfare  of  the  country.  They  shared  in  the  con- 
flicts of  Eobert  Bruce.  No  doubt  the  Macdougalls  of  Lorn  were 
hostile  to  Bruce,  and  showed  it.  But  they  were  but  a  section  of 
the  Highlanders,  and  Bruce's  own  reserve  at  Bannockburn,  on 
which  he  relied  in  case  of  necessity,  was,  so  far  as  infantry  was 
concerned,  composed  entirely  of  Highlanders,  and  nobly  did  they 
maintain  the  honour  of  their  name  and  country.  And  so  down  to 
modern  times,  when  they  bore  at  least  their  own  share  in  the  con- 
flicts of  Great  Britain,  and  on  every  hand  they  have  maintained  the 
credit  of  the  race,  and  won  for  themselves  an  imperishable  name  in 
the  annals  of  this  great  nation.  (Applause.)  We  do  not  desire  to 
make  a  boast  of  all  this.  Let  these  things  speak  for  themselves.  But 
there  are  times  when  they,  as  well  as  others,  should  he  reminded  of 
them.  And  I  think  the  time  and  place  which  I  occupy  here  affords  a 
fitting  opportunity  which  it  would  be  wrong  to  neglect.  We  are 
not  ashamed  of  being  known  as  Highlanders  ;  quite  the  reverse.  I 
have  been  often  struck  by  the  absurdity  of  the  name  which  is  often 
given  in  modern  times  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  country.  I  do  not 
refer  to  the  name  English,  as  if  we  were  all  Englishmen,  and  some 
Scotsmen  do  try  their  utmost  to  conceal  their  nationality.  I  refer 
to  the  term  Anglo-Saxon.  Did  you  ever  hear  of  such  a  piece  of 
tautology  1  It  is  a  mere  reduplication  of  what  is  virtually  the  same 
thing.  Are  the  inhabitants  of  this  country  Anglo-Saxon  1  Many 
of  us  have  not  one  drop  of  Saxon  blood  in  us,  and  don't  feel  that 
we  are  a  hair  the  worse.  (Cheers.)  Are  the  Welsh  Anglo-Saxons  ? 
I  say,  ask  them,  and  you  will  find  what  they  themselves  think. 
Are  the  native  Irish  Anglo-Saxons  1  If  they  were  they  had  been 
differently  treated  by  the  dominant  race.  I  believe  the  Irish 
question  to  be  simply  a  question  of  race.  But  we  have  about  six 
millions  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  United  Kingdom  Celtic  in  blood 
and  temperament ;  and  to  be  called  Anglo-Saxon  is  a  contemptible 
blunder  founded  in  ignorance  and  prejudice.  We  are  an  Anglo- 
Celtic  race,  and  nothing  else.  (Cheers.)  It  is  amusing  to  see  and 
hear  what  the  Anglo-Saxon  has  done  at  home  and  abroad,  as  if  the 
very  soul  of  every  enterprise  of  his  did  not  largely  depend  on  Celtic 
energy  and  life.  Your  colonists  are  as  much  Celts  as  Saxons,  as 


126  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

every  one  visiting  them  cannot  fail  to  observe,  and  these  Celts  are 
not  the  least  successful  of  them.  (Applause.)  But  the  subject  of 
Celtic  literature  comes  up  for  consideration  at  a  meeting  like  this. 
I  have  often  said  that  Celtic  literature  is  a  word  that  includes  much. 
There  are  six  millions  of  people  embraced  in  the  Celtic-speaking 
population  of  Western  Europe,  and  each  branch  of  these  has  its 
own  literature.  You  have  the  literature,  oral  and  written,  of 
Brittany,  which  is  full  of  interest.  It  is  not  abundant,  but,  taken 
along  with  the  ancient  remains  of  that  beautiful  country,  it  presents 
a  field  of  observation  and  study  second  to  none  in  Europe.  It  is 
most  exciting  for  a  Highlander  to  travel  in  Brittany,  and  to  see  and 
hear  what  he  sees  and  hears  there.  Everywhere  he  meets  some- 
thing different  from  home  and  something  like  it.  Above  all,  it  is 
the  region  of  poetry,  of  which,  as  with  ourselves,  almost  all  the 
literature  consists.  I  would  advise  every  Celtic  enthusiast  to  travel 
in  Brittany.  He  brings  home  facts  and  impressions  new  to  him 
and  full  of  instruction.  The  literature  of  Cornwall  is,  like  that  of 
Brittany,  not  extensive.  It  is  remarkabla  that  these  two  projec- 
tions into  the  Atlantic,  the  two  Cornwalls,  one  of  France  and  one 
of  Britain,  are  occupied  by  a  Celtic  race,  and  till  recently  both  by 
a  Celtic  tongue.  And  these  two  tongues  are  closely  related,  and 
are  the  possession  of  what  must  originally  have  been  the  same 
people.  The  remains  of  Cornish  literature  have  only  been  printed 
recently,  but  were  it  nothing  else  than  William's  Cornu-British 
Lexicon,  that  literature  has  made  a  valuable  contribution  to  the 
literature  of  the  race.  In  Wales  the  literature  is  abundant. 
Numerous  newspapers  and  other  periodicals  exist,  and  you  could 
fill  the  shelves  of  a  moderately-sized  library  with  original  works  in 
prose  and  verse.  If  I  were  a  rich  man  I  would  like  to  collect  a 
Celtic  library.  But  as  I  am  not,  I  must  collect  such  books  as  I 
can.  But  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness  might  set  itself  to  do  a 
less  wise  thing  than  to  collect  a  library  of  works  in  the  six  Celtic 
tongues.  It  would  be  unique  and  full  of  interest.  (Applause.) 
Man  has  its  literature — peculiar,  but  of  much  value,  giving  us  a 
special  and  distinct  orthography,  and  retaining  idioms  peculiar  to 
itself.  I  have  been  in  Man,  and  tried  to  converse  in  Manx.  But 
they  are  hard  to  understand,  these  Manxmen.  And  their  profuse 
admixture  of  English  with  the  native  language  makes  it  more 
difficult  and  not  easy  to  comprehend.  The  literature  of  Ireland  is 
an  honour  to  the  race  and  country.  It  gives  some  idea  of  what  the 
native  Celt  really  is.  I  have  a  great  respect  for  the  Saxon.  He 
has  proved  his  worth  by  what  he  has  done  in  the  history  of  the 
world.  No  race  in  it  has  left  a  broader  or  a  deeper  mark.  But  he 
does  not  readily  mix  with  the  Celt.  There  are  sources  of  irremove- 


Annual  Assembly.  127 

able  antagonism  between  them,  and  hence  they  are  hindrances  and 
not  helps  to  the  progress  of  each  other.  The  bitterness  that  fills 
the  Irish  native  mind  is  not  that  of  politics  or  religion.  It  is,  as  I 
said,  of  race,  and  will  not  easily  be  removed.  But  hard  pressed  as 
the  Irish  have  been  by  their  antagonist,  the  Irish  have  noble  relics 
of  the  past — relics  worthy  of  a  great  people.  In  literature  were 
there  nothing  but  their  annals,  they  are  a  possession  such  as  no 
other  nation  has,  and  the  recent  publication  of  large  sections  of 
their  literary  remains,  in  transcribed  MSS.,  presents  us  with  a 
literature  well  worthy  of  the  name.  Our  Gaelic  literature  is  bat  a 
section  of  the  literature  of  the  Celtic  race,  and  is  not  to  be  taken 
alone.  In  quantity  it  may  be  less  than  either  the  Irish  or  the 
Welsh  ;  in  quality  it  is  behind  none.  Ossian,  as  we  possess  it,  is 
the  finest  production  of  the  Celtic  mind.  (Cheers.)  I  enter  here 
into  no  controverted  question,  but  take  the  poems  as  we  have  them. 
Much  of  the  Irish  Ossianic  poetry  is  doggerel,  though  there  are  fine 
fragments.  But  Ossian,  as  Macpherson  gave  it  to  the  world,  is 
poetry,  rich  in  all  that  constitutes  poetry,  and  made  an  impression 
to  correspond.  Saxon  jealousy,  and  some  Celtic,  broke  out  against 
it,  as  it  would  to-morrow  again  in  the  same  circumstances.  But 
there  it  is,  and  you  might  as  well  attempt  to  blot  one  of  the  stars 
out  of  the  firmament  as  the  name  of  Ossian  out  of  the  roll  of  the 
world's  great  poets.  (Applause.)  The  very  controversies  regarding 
him  and  his  poetry  are  tokens  of  his  power.  Gaelic  literature, 
both  prose  and  verse,  is  of  great  antiquity,  so  great  that  it  was  in 
its  period  of  decadence  before  the  English  language  existed  as  we 
now  have  it.  (Hear,  hear.)  The  remains  of  it  are  few,  it  may  be, 
but  they  are  samples  of  what  must  have  been  a  wonderful  whole. 
The  MSS.  existing — theological,  philosophical,  medical,  astrological, 
genealogical,  topographical,  grammatical,  &c. — are  mere  samples, 
but  they  are  samples  that  could  not  have  existed  did  they  not  re- 
present a  great  deal  more.  (Applause.)  They  all  indicate  a 
maturity  that  could  only  come  of  extensive  practice.  Some  of 
these,  such  as  the  Book  of  Deir,  and  the  works  of  the  Mull  Mac- 
leans, the  physicians  of  the  Lord  of  the  Isles,  are  unmistakably 
Scottish.  Modern  Celtic  literature,  I  need  hardly  say  here,  is 
largely  composed  of  poetry.  For  150  years  poets  have  been  sing- 
ing in  Gaelic  on  all  the  subjects  that  usually  interest  their  class. 
From  Mac  Mhaighistir  Alastair  and  Donnachadh  Ban  we  have  a 
string  of  them,  while  even  before  their  day  we  shall  find  Eoin  Lorn 
and  John  Roy  Stewart.  Even  now  they  exist,  and  two  of  them  I 
know  as  connected  with  my  own  flock  in  Edinburgh — Mrs.  Mac- 
kellar  and  Neil  Macleod — no  unworthy  members  of  the  fraternity  of 
Gaelic  bards.  We  lately  lost  an  admirable  Gaelic  scholar  in  the 


128  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

person  of  Mr.  D.  C.  Macpherson.  I  confess  to  a  great  love  of  the 
Gaelic  tongue.  People  say  it  is  dying.  So  much  the  greater  the 
pity.  People  tell  you  would  it  not  be  better  to  have  but  one 
spoken  tongue  in  the  country1?  Not  a  bit.  Does  the  British 
army  lose  by  its  variety  of  nationalities  ?  Quite  the  contrary.  It 
adds  to  its  strength.  Its  Irish  and  Highland  and  Welsh  and 
English  regiments  add  to  the  general  strength  and  life  of  the 
army,  so  do  the  various  tongues  as  they  exist  among  us  add  to  the 
general  power  and  high  spirit  of  the  British  nation.  They  coalesce 
admirably,  and  yet  each  has  its  own  distinctive  character  and  force. 
Things  don't  gain  in  grace  and  power  by  being  reduced  to  the 
level  of  a  common  uniformity.  It  does  not  do  to  make  a  man  all 
head  or  all  heart.  He  is  the  better  of  having  a  share  of  both  in 
suitable  proportion.  So  the  Gaelic  should  live,  and  to  live  should 
be  taught.  (Applause.)  A  Highlander  who  talks  Gaelic  is  not 
educated  unless  he  can  read  it.  I  have  nothing  against  the  national 
school  system.  I  believe  more  of  the  youth  of  the  Highlands  in 
getting  a  good'  education  than  ever  in  their  history.  But  I  fear 
that  there  is  less  teaching  of  the  native  tongue,  from  what  I  can 
hear.  It  is  not  justice  to  the  people  of  the  Highlands  not  to  teach 
them  to  read  Gaelic.  (Applause.)  How  it  is  to  be  done  I  am  not 
to  discuss.  There  are  plenty  funds  to  serve  the  purpose  if  they 
could  be  got  at,  and  I  do  not  know  a  more  patriotic  object  to  de- 
vote them  to.  It  is  all  well  to  speak  of  Gaelic  literature.  But 
what  is  the  use  of  a  literature  that  cannot  be  read.  And  I  speak 
very  emphatically  of  religious  literature,  which  has  done  so  much 
for  the  elevation  of  our  Highland  countrymen.  It  will  be  useless 
if  it  cannot  be  read.  Our  Bibles  and  Catechisms  and  other  moral 
and  religious  publications,  of  which  there  are  so  many,  will  be 
thrown  well  nigh  away  if  the  people  have  not  the  power  of  reading 
them.  The  reading  of  Gaelic  must  be  taught  while  the  people 
speak  it,  and  this  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness,  which  has  done  good 
service  already,  must  do  more  by  knocking  at  every  door  that  offers 
the  slightest  hope  until  the  object  is  accomplished.  All  faithful 
and  loyal  Highlanders  must  join  in  this.  I  have  taken  my  own 
share  of  the  work,  and  I  am  willing  to  take  more.  Alex.  Mac- 
donald  says  of  the  Gaelic  : — 

"  'Si  labhair  Adharnh  ann  am  Parras  fein, 
'S  bu  shiubhlach  Gailig  a  beul  aluinn  Eubh, 
Och  !  tha  'bhuil  ann  !  's  uireasbhach,  gann,  fo  dhith, 
Gloir  gach  teang'  a  labhradh  cainnt  ach  i." 

I  must  say  a  word  on  the  social  condition  of  the  Highlands.    High- 


A  nnual  A  ssemb/y.  1 29 

landers  may  now  be  divided  into  two  great  sections — the  home  and 
the  colonial.  I  have  seen  and  perused  with  interest  the  accounts 
given  of  their  visits  to  America  by  Mr.  Mackenzie  and  Mr. 
Murdoch,  your  two  active  and  energetic  Celtic  editors.  It  is  of  im- 
portance for  us  to  know  the  lot  of  our  countrymen  both  in  Canada 
and  the  United  States,  and  they  have  given  us  a  faithful  picture  of 
it.  I  have  been  in  America,  too,  and  have  visited  most  of  the 
townships  in  Canada  where  Gaelic  is  spoken.  It  is,  however,  six- 
and-thirty  years  ago,  and  things  must  be  changed  since.  But  I  saw 
sufficient  to  satisfy  me  that  Highlanders  had,  for  the  most  part, 
made  a  good  exchange.  I  took  dinner  one  day  in  the  farm-house 
of  a  Skye  emigrant.  I  was  made  most  comfortable,  and  I  asked  my 
host  which  he  liked  best,  America  or  Skye  ?  His  answer  was — "  I 
could  not  spread  such  a  table  before  my  guests  in  Skye."  He  had 
improved  his  condition  substantially,  and  all  was  his  own.  He  had 
no  fear  of  landlord,  or  factor,  or  sheriff-officer.  But  America  has  its 
drawbacks.  I  would  specially  notice  the  climate.  The  heat  and 
the  cold  are  both  terrific.  There  are  immense  distances  to  travel, 
bad  roads,  and  a  multitude  of  minor  inconveniences.  America  is 
no  garden  of  Edsn,  although  a  good  country  for  men  who  practi- 
cally have  no  other.  But  is  not  this  a  better  country,  and  is  there 
not  abundant  room  in  it  yet  1  (Laughter  and  applause.)  I  am  no 
revolutionist.  The  rights  of  property  may  not  lawfully  be  abolished. 
But  I  am  here  to  say  that  our  landlords  never  did  a  thing  more  un- 
wise than  in  driving  the  people  out  of  the  country.  The  people 
they  have  sent  adrift  are  now  their  great  rivals  in  the  produce 
markets,  and  they  will  be  so  increasingly.  All  America  needs  is  a 
market  for  her  produce,  and  men  have  immense  advantages  who 
have  no  rent  to  pay.  It  used  to  be  said  that  every  man  we  sent 
abroad  became  a  consumer  of  our  produce  of  various  kinds.  He 
has  turned  out  a  producer,  and  a  very  abundant  one.  When  I  see 
our  desolated  straths  and  glens,  I  cannot  but  think  of  the  infatua- 
tion that  sent  the  people  who  once  filled  them  away  to  cultivate  the 
forests  and  prairies  of  America,  enriching  another  nation,  and  im- 
poverishing our  own — (applause) — and  my  feelings  are  the  same 
when  I  see  the  back  streets  and  lanes  of  our  cities  occupied  by  a 
people  who  once  trod  independently  their  native  heath,  spoke  and 
sung  in  their  native  language,  and  contributed  their  share  largely 
by  their  toil  to  the  national  wealth.  Such  things  will  and  must 
have  their  Nemesis.  (Applause.)  It  would  be  better  for  the  land, 
the  landlord,  and  the  people,  that  the  Highlanders  had  been  left  to 
cultivate  the  land  which  they  called  their  own,  which  they  won  and 
kept  by  the  sword  for  their  landlords  during  many  generations,  and 
from  which  they  were  cast  out  as  a  thing  of  nought.  (Applause.) 

9 


130  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

How  the  evil  is  to  be  remedied  I  don't  pretend  to  say.  But  if 
there  is  to  be  legislation  in  connection  with  our  land  laws,  the 
Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness  might  use  their  influence  in  directing 
it  with  regard  to  the  Highlands  in  the  way  most  likely  to  serve  the 
interests  of  the  Highland  people.  In  many  parts  of  the  country 
they  themselves  seem  to  have  a  very  small  share  of  that  civil  liberty 
for  which  as  a  nation  we  struggled  so  long,  and  may,  perhaps,  be 
afraid  to  act.  Their  friends  must  act  for  them.  One  other  subject. 
Can  we  not  next  year  have  a  census  of  the  Gaelic-speaking  popula- 
tion of  Scotland  ?  The  Irish  had  it  last  census  but  one.  Why 
should  not  we  ?  The  Church  Committee,  of  which  I  am  convener, 
have  unanimously  memorialised  Government  in  favour  of  such  a 
census.  It  would  be  full  of  interest,  and  could  be  made  to  serve 
important  practical  grades.  Would  this  Society  send  a  memorial  to 
the  same  effect  ?  It  is  quite  in  their  line,  and  would  be  of  great  and 
substantial  service  to  the  Highlands.  Your  excellent  M.P.,  Mr. 
Eraser-Mackintosh,  has  promised  his  hearty  support.  And  now  let 
me  again  thank  you  for  the  honour  you  have  done  me.  I  wish 
your  Society  a  long  and  prosperous  course,  and  desire  that  it  may 
serve  to  promote  largely  the  best  interests  of  our  much-loved  High- 
lands. And  in  taking  leave,  let  me  say  with  the  Gaelic  bard  : — 

"  Gu  meal  sibh  breth  agus  buaidh, 
Gu  meal  sibh  uaill  agus  muirn, 
Gu  meal  sibh  gach  beannachd  an  cein, 
'S  mo  bheannachd  fein  dhuibh  air  thus." 

"  An  la  a  chi  'us  nach  fhaic." 

"  Ho  'n  clo  dubh "  was  then  sung  by  a  party  of  ladies,  who 
displayed  careful  training,  and  received  a  deserved  encore.  The 
ladies  were  Miss  Young,  Huntly  Street;  Miss  Macbean,  Church 
Street;  Miss  Macdonald,  Armadale  Cottage,  Greig  Street;  and 
Miss  Noble,  Eunachton.  The  pieces  sung  by  the  party  during  the 
evening  were  taken  from  the  Celtic  Magazine,  as  contributed  by 
the  Secretary  of  the  Society.  Miss  Watt  followed  with  "  In  my 
wild  mountain  valley,"  which  was  rendered  with  her  accustomed 
grace  and  that  musical  culture  for  which  she  is  distinguished.  She 
was  encored,  and  gave  "  Comin'  thro'  the  Eye."  Next  came  the 
"  Highland  Fling,"  danced  by  four  Highlanders — Pipe-Major  Mac- 
kenzie, Ross-shire  Militia ;  Pipe-Major  Ferguson,  Inverness  Rifle 
Volunteers ;  and  Messrs.  Reid  and  Kennedy,  Inverness.  This  also 
had  to  be  repeated,  and  then  Miss  J.  Clarke  Fraser  sang  "  The 
auld  Hoose  "  very  pathetically.  Miss  Lizzie  Macbean  gave  "  Thug 
mi  gaol  do'n  fhear  bhan,"  and  showed  herself  an  accomplished 
Gaelic  songstress,  both  as  regards  the  music  and  pronunciation. 


Annual  Assembly.  131 

Mr.  Colin  Chisholm,  Inverness,  then  addressed  the  meeting  as 
follows : — A  Dheadh  Chinn-iuil,  A  Bhantighearnan  agus  a  Dhaoine- 
uailse.  A  thaobh  's  gu'n  cuala  sibh  Gailig  mhath  agus  moran 
do  dheadh  Bheurla  o  'n  Ollamh  MacLachlain,  cha  ruig  mise  leas 
guth  a  radh  mu  dheibhinn  sean  eachdraidh  na  Gaidhealtachd — 
chuala  sibh  sin  o  fhear  a  tha  moran  nis  fiosraiche  na  mise.  Ach 
feudaidh  sinn  iomradh  a  thoirt  air  beagan  ghnothaichean  is  fhaisge 
air  ar  tiom  fein.  Bho  'n  tha  saor-shaigdearan  a'  bhaile  so  cho  math 
's  gu'n  tug  iad  cead  dhuinn  cruinneachadh  a  nochd  fo  chromagan 
an  tigh  is  modha  's  is  fhear  a  tha  aca  fein  tha  duil  agamsa  gu'm  bidh 
e  araid  focal  no  dha  a  chantainn  mu  'n  deibhinn  anns  a'  chiad  dol 
a  mach.  A  reir  mo  bheachdsa,  tha  e  na  aobhar  uaile  's  na  aobhar 
toilichidh  do  mhuinntir  Inbhirnis  gu'm  hheil  na  ceudan  de'n  daoine 
fein  ullamh  fo  arm  's  fo  eideadh  gu  iad  fein  agus  an  duthaich  a 
dhion.  Tha  iad  cho  foghuinteach,  cho  tapaidh,  cho  ealanta, 
's  cho  glan-ionnsuichte  an  cleasachd  nan  arm,  agus  anns  gach 
cleas  eile  ri  daoine  tha  giubhlan  cota  dubh  no  dearg,  eadar  dha 
cheann  na  rioghachd.  Na  'n  tigeadh  caonnag,  no  cogadh  's  gu'm 
biodh  ceartas  an  cunnard,  a  choir  ri  sheasamh,  no  toireachd  ri 
thoirt  a  mach,  dheanadh  misneachd,  cruadal  a's  treubhantas  saor- 
shaighdearan  Inbhirnis  so  a  dhearbhadh.  Tha  cuid  ag  radh  gu'n 
robh  na  Gaidheil  bho  shean  cho  trailleil  's  gu'n  rachadh  iad  do  'n 
choille  comhla  ri  'n  ceann-cinnidh  gus  an  taghadh  iad  a  chraobh  ris 
am  bu  mhath  leo  bhi  air  an  crochadh.  Cha  'n  eil  dearbhadh  ged 
bha  na  daoine  bho  'n  d'  thainig  sinn  fir  mhodhail,  gu'n  robh  iad 
neo-eisimeileach,  agus  ro  dhileas  dha  na  Tighearnan.  Mar  dhear- 
bhadh air  an  earbsa  as  an  deadh-bheachd  fein  dh'islich  iad  Mac-'ic- 
Ailein,  agus  Fear-na-Ceapaich.  Chuir  iad  as  an  ard-inbhe  le 
cheil  iad  agus  chuir  iad  daoine  eile  na  'n  aite.  Bha  Clann-Choin- 
nich  cho  beachdail  's  cho  ceannasach  's  nach  leigeadh  iad  le  'n 
ceann-cinnidh,  larla  Sithphort,  Caisteal  Bhrathainn  a  leagail  gu  lar. 
'Nuair  a  ghabh  Tighearna  Ghlinn-Urachidh  na  cheann  gu'n  togadh 
e  caisteal  dha  fhein  shuidhich  e  steidh  air  bruthach  ri  taobh  Loch- 
Ta,  ach  cha  do  thaitinn  an  larach  ri  na  Cambeulaich  's  b'fheudar 
do  "  Dhonnachadh  Dubh  na  Cuic  "  Caisteal  a'  Bheallaich  a  thogail 
aig  ceann  Loch-Ta.  Bho  so  chi  sinn  nach  robh  na  Fineachan 
Gaidhealach  gun  chomhairle  na  'n  ceann  fein.  Bha  na  Tighearnan 
ag  earbsa  as  an  t-sluagh  agus  an  sluagh  earbsach  as  na  Tighearnan, 
fhad  sa  chitheadh  iad  ceartas  a  dol  air  adhart.  Ach  bha  na  Gaidheil 
laidir  daingean  na  'm  beachd  fein.  Mar  dhearbhadh  air  so,  seall 
mar  rinn  iad  am  Bliadhna  Thearlaich  air  Tighearna  Ghrannd. 
Thionail  e  aona-ceud-deug  fear  's  dh'iarr  e  orra  eiridh  le  Diuchd 
Uilleam.  Cha  do  fhreagair  duine  ach  naodhnar  as  a  chiad  e.  Air 
an  aon  doigh,  thionail  Mac  Leoid  mile  fear  mu  Chaisteal  Dhun- 


132  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

bheagan  's  cha  do  lean  e  fein  agus  Diuchd  Uilleam  ach  an  coigeamh 
earrainn  de  chuid  daoine.  Chuir  Diuchd  Athul,  agus  Morair 
Bhraid-Alaba  an  cuid  dhaoine  cruinn,  ach  an  deamhan  aona  mhac 
mathar  idir  a  fhuair  an  Diuchd  no  'n  t-Iarla  a  leigeadh  urachar  no 
bhuaileadh  buille  an  aghaidh  Phrionns'  Tearlach.  Sin  agaibh  lan- 
dearbhadh  air  gu'n  robh  na  Gaidheil  saor-inntinneach  'nuair  thigeadh 
a  chuis  gu  h-aon  'sa  dha.  Cha  do  shoillsich  a  ghrian  air  daoine  na 
bu  dilse  na  Gaidheil  Alba.  Na  'm  biodh  dearbhadh  bhuainn  air  so, 
dh-fhoghnadh  dhuinn  cuimhneachadh  mar  leum  fear  an  deigh  fear 
do  sheachdnar  braithrean  a  dol  eadar  Mac-Illean  agus  saighdean  a 
naimhdean  arm  am  blar  Inbhir-Cheithinn.  Latha  Eaon-Kuarai 
leum  a  bhrathair-altrum  eadar  an  Eidir  Eoghan  Camaran  Lochial  's 
fear-bogha  bha  deanamh  cuimse  air  an  Eidire.  Chaidli  an  t-saigh- 
ead  na  chridhe  fein  ach  thearruinn  e  beatha  'n  Eidire.  La  na 
Maoile-Euaidhe  'm  Braidhe-Lochabar  leum  an  t-aileach  mor  eadar 
Fear-na-Ceapach  agus  na  naimhdean  bha  'n  comhar  a  bheatha  thoirt 
dheth.  Dh-fhaodainn  moran  innse  de  leithid  so;  ach  bha  na  Gaidheil 
cho  dileas  ann  's  gach  doigh  eile  'sa  bha  iad  'n  teas  a'  bhlair.  An 
deigh  la  na  dunach  air  sliabh  Chuilodair  bha  airgiod  cheann  air  a 
thairgse  air  iomadh  fear,  's  deich  mile  fichead  air  a  thairgse  air  son 
Prionns  Tearlach.  Tha  fios  agaibh  uile  ged  a  thairgeadh  iad  deich 
mile  fichead  millian  punnd  Sassunnach  nach  robh  duine  air  Gaidheal- 
tachd  na  h-Alba  'ghabhadh  e.  Thairg  iad  mile  punnd  Sassunnach  a 
ceann  tighearna  Chluanaidh,  's  cha  robh  duine  no  gille  'm  Baideanach 
aig  nach  robh  fios  gu'n  robb  e  na  dhuthaich  fein.  Thug  muinntir 
Bhaideanach  an  aire  mhath  air  fad  na  'n  naodh  bliadhna  bha  e  fo  'n 
choille.  Chaidh  e  sin  do  'n  Fhraing  's  dh'  eug  e  goirid  an  deigh 
dha  'dhol  thairis.  Theagamh  gu'n  can  fear-eigin  gur  "  dan  mar 
dhurachd  "  a  bhi  seinn  cliu  nan  Gaidheal,  's  gu'n  cuir  e  mar  cheisd 
— "  An  robh  droch  dhuine  riamh  na  'in  measg  ? "  'S  fheudar 
aideachadh  gu'n  robh  aon  salachar  dhuine  an  Asuinnt-mu-thuath  a 
bhrath  an  deadh  shaighdear,  's  an  deadh  cheannard,  Montrose.  Mar 
dhuais,  fhuair  e  luchd  luinge  do  mhin  bhreoite,  's  thubhairt  Iain 
Lorn — 

"  Marbh-phasg  ort  a  mhi-mheis 

Nach  olc  a  reic  thu  'm  firean, 

Airson  na  mine  Litich, 

A's  da  thrian  di  goirt." 

Bha  mile  punnd  Sassunnach  air  ceann  Mhic  Shimidh ;  's  gu  bhi 
cinnteach  gu'n  glacadh  iad  e  chuir  iad  feachd  de  na  saighdearan 
dearg  air  Blar-na-Coinlich,  feachd  eile  aig  Bail-a-Gheata,  feachd  eile 
air  an  Eaon-Fhearna  aig  Struidh,  agus  feachd  eile  air  Lon- 
Bhrodhlainn,  a  chum  's  gu'm  faigheadh  iad  e  ma  bha  e  aon  chuid 


Annual  Assembly.  133 

air  an  talamh  no  fodha.  Thug  an  seann  duine  an  sin  Morthir  air. 
Thug  iad  an  aire  fad  uine  anns  a  Mhorthir  aige  fein  air ;  ach  mar  a 
bha  cham-chomhail  air  chaidh  e  thairis  air  Loch-Morair  agus  ghabh 
e  tuinidh  ann  an  cos  seann  chraobh  mhor  a  thuit  tarsainn  air  allt  ris 
an  canar  Allt-a-Bhearraidh.  Bha  's  an  am  ann  a  Meobul  trusdar 
air  an  robh  Iain  mac  Eaild  mhic  Lachlain — Dh-fheudainn 
fhine  innse,  ach  ge  'd  a  dh-innseadh,  tha  fhios  "nach  eile  coille 
gun  a  crionaich  's  nach  eil  fine  gun  a  diubhail."  Bhrath  am  fear 
so  an  seann  duine  agus  fhuair  e  an  t-airgead  cinn  ;  's  bha  e  fein 
agus  Uistean  a  mhac  'n  an  daoine  mora  fhad  'sa  mhair  an  t-airgead- 
fola ;  ach,  'nuair  a  dh-eug  Uistean,  b'  fheudar  do  na  coimhearsnaich 
a  thiolaigeadh  air  an  cosg  fein ;  's  cha  'n  eil  duine  beo  an  diugh  de 
'n  dream  do  'n  robh  e,  ach  aon  duine  a  tha  mu  dheas.  Chum  am 
Bard  air  chuimhne  gu'n  robh  oillt  aig  muinntir  na  duthcha  roimh 
'n  bhrathadair  agus  a  shliochd — 

"  Cha  chluinn  sinn  aca  mar  cheol  cluaise 
Ach  a  moladh  uaisle  'n  athar — 
Am  fear  a  reic  an  conspunn  rioghail 
Air  son  mile  dh'  airgiod  bratha." 

'Nuair  a  bha  oighreachd  an  t-Sruthain  an  lamhan  a  Chruin  chuir 
dubhlachd  a'  gheamhraidh  an  Seirdsean  Mor,  Iain  Dubh  Camaran, 
a  ghabhail  cuid  na  h-oidhche  an  tigh  drochairt  a  bhrath  Q  ;  '»  cha 
do  sheas  cuid  no  daoine  dha  an  deigh  sin.  Bho  latha  ludais  gu  so 
cha  d'eirich  gu  math  do  dh-fhear-bratha.  Ann  an  tri-fichead 
bliadhna  'sa  ceithir  thogadh  tri-deug-'ar-fhichead  do  reiseamaidean 
air  Gaidhealtachd  Alba.  Tha  e  air  innse  dhuinn  le  luchd  each- 
draidh  gu  'n  do  thogadh  da-mhile-dheug-agus-coig-ceud  fear  dhiubh 
sin  mu  thuath  air  Peairt  agus  sin  uile  ann  an  aon  ochd-mhiosan- 
deug.  Co  meud  a  thogadh  iad  an  diugh  feadh  nan  garbh-chrioch  ? 
Ged  a  chuireadh  iad  an  ceannard  is  foghainntiche  fo  'n  chrun  an 
diugh  a  thogail  dhaoine,  cha  'n  eil  duil  agamsa  gu  'm  b'  urrainn 
tighearnan  na  Gaidhealtachd  gu  leir  aon  reiseamaid  a  chur  ri  cheile. 
Cha  'n  eil  daoine  ann,  tha  chuid  mhor  de  'n  talamh  na  fhasaichean 
aig  fiadh-bhiastan  an  achaidh  agus  reir  coltas  tha  cuid  de  na  daoine 
ro  fhuair  an  talamh  air  chumhnant  bhi  na  'n  cul-taice  dha  'n  t-sluagh 
dheonach  an  scriobadh  as  an  rathad  buileach  glan.  (Loud  cheers.) 

Dr.  Maclauchlan  then  left  the  chair,  but  before  doing  so  again 
impressed  on  the  Society  that  they  should  petition  Parliament  in 
favour  of  the  Gaelic  census.  The  chair  was  then  taken  by  Captain 
Chisholm,  who  called  for  three  cheers  for  the  rev.  Doctor  as  he  left 
the  hall,  which  were  most  lustily  given. 

After  some  bagpipe  music,  the  party  of  young  ladies  again  ap- 
peared, and  sang  "  'S  toigh  learn  a'  Ghaidhealtachd."  Mr.  J.  A. 


134  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

Mackenzie,  who  gave  "  The  Blue  Bonnets  over  the  Border,"  was 
very  warmly  received;  and  Miss  Young,  with  the  old  Gaelic 
favourite,  "  Ho  r6  mo  nigheann  donn  bhoidheach,"  increased  the 
reputation  she  has  acquired  at  former  assemblies  of  the  Gaelic 
Society.  Miss  Watt  then,  with  great  success,  gave  "  Thou  art  so 
near,  and  yet  so  far."  The  next  line  in  the  programme  was  an  ad- 
dress by  Professor  Blackie,  but,  owing  to  his  absence,  and  instead 
thereof,  three  cheers  were  heartily  given  for  him  on  the  call  of 
Captain  Chisholm. 

Eev.  Alex.  Macgregor,  Inverness,  said — Ladies  and  gentlemen, 
I  hope  that  you  will  cordially  unite  with  me  in  giving  a  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  to  our  reverend  Chairman  for  the  admirable  manner 
in  which  he  has  presided  over  us  this  evening,  as  well  as  for  the 
address  which  he  has  so  eloquently  delivered.  I  find,  however, 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  that  I  am  unable  to  give  such  efficient  ex- 
pression to  my  sentiments  as  I  could  wish  in  the  soft,  effeminate 
tongue  of  the  Saxon,  so  that  you  will  kindly  bear  with  me,  while  I 
address  you  for  a  minute  or  two  in  the  pure  and  powerful  language 
of  our  native  mountains  and  glens.  (Loud  cheers.) 

A  Bhantighearnan  agus  a  Dhaoin-uaisle,  Cha  robh  duil  sain  bith 
agamsa,  air  aon  lide  a  radh  an  nochd  anns  a'  cho'-chruinneachadh 
aluinn  so — ach  ceaduichibh  dhomh  direach  focal  no  dha  a  labhairt, 
a  chur  an  ceill  am  mor-thoilinntinn  a  tha  lionadh  me  chridhe  le 
bhi  'faicinn  chairdean  co  dian  agus  dealasach  a  lathair  an  so  an 
nochd.  Bha  'mhiann  air  moran  Ghaidheil  eile  a  bhi,  mar  an  ceudna 
maille  ruinn  aig  an  am,  ach  chuir  iad  litrichean,  mar  a  chuala  sibh, 
dh-ionnsuidh  an  Run-chleirich  ghasda  againn,  a'  caoidh  nach  robh 
e  'nan  comus  teachd  air  an  aghaidh.  Am  measg  chaich  bha  litir 
ro  ghrinn  o'n  Ollamh  Blackie  a  chuir  duilicheadas  air  a'  choinneamh 
gu  leir  nach  d'  fhuair  iad  an  solas  a  ghnuis  fhaicinn,  agus  a  bhria- 
thran  a  chluinntinn.  Ach  bu  choir  uaill  gun  choimeas  a  bhi  air 
gach  ball  de  'n  Chomunn  againn,  a  thaobh  gu'n  d'  thainig  an 
t-Ollamh  urramach  sin  a  bha  'na  shuidhe  'sa'  chaithir,  gu  bhi  'gar 
stiuireadh  an  nochd.  Ochan !  b'e  e  fein  an  duin'-uasal  caomliail, 
ceanalta.  Biodh  uaill  oirbh  uile,  do  bhrigh  gur  moch  a  chuir  aile 
cubhraidh  nan  ard-bheann  a  tha  'cuairteachadh  a'  bhaile  ghrinn.  so, 
feoil  mu  na  cnamhaibh  aige,  ann  an  laithibh  'oige !  Bhiodh  an 
gnothuch  ceart  na'm  biodh  an  t-Ollamh  sin  eile  maille  ruinn — an 
t-Ollamh  luaineach,  luth-bhallach,  subailte,  suspainneach  sin,  Ian 
Stiubhart  Blackie  !  Is  Gall  e  'na  bhreith,  ach  rugadh  e  le  cridhe 
Gaidhealach  'na  chom !  Is  Uachdaran  Gaidhealach  e — agus  le 
saothair  gun  soradh,  's  le  strith  gun  choimeas,  shuidhich  e,  agus 
cho-dhainghnich  e  canain  Oisein  agus  Fhinn  air  Caithir  dhiong- 
mhalta,  far  an  rioghaich  i,  beo  no  maxbh,  mar  fhreumh-chanain  na 


A  nnual  A  ssembly.  1 35 

Roinn  Eorpa,  o  linn  nan  linn  gu  brath  !  — Gu  mo  fada  beo  esan  mar 
an  ceudna. — Is  dealaidh,  deothasach  iad  le  cneile — treun  agus 
treibhdhireach  'nan  suidheachadh — daingean,  bunailteach  'nan  speis 
do  'n  Ghailig — deas  agus  deonach  air  gach  cuideachadh  'nan 
comus  a  dheanamh  chum  na  Gaidheil  agus  a'  Ghailig  eiridinn — 
agus  chum  a  bhi  'nan  cairdibh  daimheil  agus  seasmhach  do'n  Ard- 
Albannach  ionmhuinn  againn  fein,  agus  mar  an  ceudna  do'n  Cheil- 
teach  chumhachdach  sin,  a  tha  a  nis,  le  buaidh  agus  urram,  a' 
togail  a  chinn  agus  a  ghuth  gu  h-eifeachdach,  anns  gach  cearnaidh 
dhe'n  talamh.  Tha'n  t-Ard-Albannach  agus  an  Ceilteach,  agus 
sgaoth  gun  aireamh  de  Ghaidheil  na  h-Airde-tuath  so,  ro  dheonach 
gu'n  gabhadh  an  t-Ollamh  Blackie  (a  tha  nis'  treasa  'na  choslas), 
greim  cruaidh  air  an  Olladh  Lachluinneach  'na  uchd — gu'n  togadh 
e  suas  e,  le  aoin  surdaig  ghrad — agus  gu'n  caruicheadh  se  e  gu 
seimh,  socaireach  ann  an  Caithir  na  Gaidlig  !  Nach  bu  neonach  an 
sealladh  e  !  Gabhaibh  mo  leisgeul — chum  mi  tuilleadh's  fada  sibh. 
Gu  robh  gach  buaidh  leis  a'  Chomunn  so,  agus  leis  na  suinn  fhogh- 
luimte,  chinneadail  sin  air  feadh  na  Gaidhealtachd  air  fad,  aig  am 
bheil  leas  agus  soirbheachadh  a'  Chomuinn  'nan  cridhe.  Faicibh — 
cluinnibh  Cailean  Siosal  coir,  le  bhilibh,  binn-bhriathrach,  agus 
leis  gach  durachd  'na  chomas,  ag  eigheach  a  mach — "  Amen." 

Mr.  Macgregor  then  called  for  three  hearty  cheers  for  Captain 
Chisholm,  which  were  cordially  given.  Captain  Chisholm  briefly 
replied. 

Miss  Chisholm,  Namur  Cottage,  presided  with  great  acceptance 
at  the  pianoforte.  The  proceedings  throughout  were  very  success- 
ful. The  following  was  the  programme  : — 


PART  I. 

Gaelic  Song     .     "  Na'm  faighinn  gille  ri  'cheannach,"  Mr.  D.  Graham, 

Fort- William. 

Address The  Chief. 

Gaelic  Song      ....     "  Ho  'n  clo  dubh," Party. 

Song "In  my  wild  mountain  valley,"      .     .    Miss  "Watt. 

Dance      ......"  Highland  Fling,"  .  Oganaich  Ghaidhealach. 

Scotch  Ballad  .     .     .     .    "  The  Auld  Hoose," .     Miss  J.  Clarke  Fraser. 

Gaelic  Song      .     .  "  Thug  mi  gaol  do'n  f  hear  bhan,"     .  Miss  Macbean. 

Gaelic  Address   .  ...      Mr.  Colin  Chisholm. 


Interval  of  Ten  Minutes — Bagpipe  Music. 


186  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

PART  II. 

Gaelic  Song  .  "  'S  toigh  learn  a'  Ghaidhealtachd,"  ....  Party. 
Scotch  Song  "  Blue  Bonnets  over  the  Border,"  Mr.  J.  A.  Mackenzie. 
Gaelic  Song  "  Ho  ro  mo  nigheann  donn  bhoiclheach,"  .  Miss  Young. 
Song  .  .  .  .  "  Thou  art  so  near,  and  yet  so  far,"  .  .  Miss  "Watt. 

Address Professor  Blackie. 

Scotch  Song      ..."  The  Emigrant's  Song,"  Miss  J.  Clarke  Eraser. 

Dance "  Eeel  o'  Tulloch,"  .  Oganaich  Ghaidhealach. 

Gaelic  Song  .  .  "  Thug  mi  gaol  do'n  t-seoladair,"  Mr.  D.  Graham. 
Vote  of  Thanks  to  the  Chief,  &c Eev.  Alex.  Macgregor. 

4in  AUGUST,  1880. 

At  the  meeting  on  this  date  it  was  agreed  to  petition  Parliament 
in  favour  of  a  Gaelic  census. 

The  Rev.  Alex.  Macgregor,  M.A.,  Inverness,  was  elected  an 
Honorary  Chieftain  of  the  Society,  in  consideration  of  his  great 
services  to  Celtic  literature  and  the  Celtic  cause  generally.  The 
same  honour  was  conferred  on  Cluny  MacPherson  of  Cluny,  in 
respect  that  he  has,  during  his  long  life,  taken  the  deepest  interest 
in  Highland  matters  generally;  and  that  especially  when  this 
Society  was  formed  he  gave  it  every  assistance  in  his  power,  and 
was  its  first  Chief. 

25iH  NOVEMBER,  1880. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  on  this  date  elected  members  of 
the  Society,  viz.  : — John  MacConnachie,  Mayor  of  Cardiff, 
honorary ;  and  John  Marshall,  coal  merchant,  Inverness  ;  J.  A. 
Mackenzie,  C.E.,  Inverness ;  A.  E.  Middleton,  Highlander  Office  ; 
and  George  B.  Simpson,  Broughty-Ferry,  ordinary. 

15TH  DECEMBER,  1880. 

At  the  meeting  on  this  date  the  secretary,  on  behalf  of  Mr. 
John  Mackay,  of  Swansea,  read  the  following  paper,  entitled — 

OIDHCHE  SHAMHNA. 

"  Oidhche  Shamhna,  tos  a'  Gheamhraidh, 
'Sa  bhail'  ud  thall  bha  ceol  againn." 

— Sean  d&n. 

Cia  iomadh  smuainte  de  mhire,  cridhealas  a's  sugradh  nach 
toil  an  oidhche  so  gu  cuimhne  a'  Ghaidheil  anns  gach  cearn  de  'n 


Oidhche  Shamhna.  13 

t-saoghal  'sam  bidh  e — smuaintean  a's  cuimhne  air  cnothan, 
ubhlan,  an  lios-chail,  an  garadh,  cruachan  arbhair,  athan,  iomadb 
ni  eile,  's  iomadh  cleas,  a's  cleachdadh  eile  bu  ghnath  le  oigridh 
na  Gaidhealtacbd,  'san  am  a  dh'aom,  am  nan  treun,  nan  sonn  's  nan 
laoch  ! 

Bha  'n  oidhche  so  na  feill  mh6r  measg  an  t-sluaigh,  measg  na'n 
Cinneach,  bho  linntean  ro-chian.  Bha  a  riaghailtean,  a's  deas- 
ghnathan,  a's  cleachdaidhean  ann  am  bith,  na  h-uile  aon  diubh, 
air  dhoigh  samhladh  fada,  fada  roimhe  breith  an  t-SlanuigMhear. 
Tha  iad  so  fathasd  air  an  coimhead,  aon  doigh,  no  doigh  eile,  anns 
gach  clachan,  agus  baile,  de  na  duthcbanan  anns  na  thuinich 
aidmheil  nan  Druidhean — Alba,  Sasuinn,  Eirinn,  's  an  Fhraing — gu 
sonruichte  anns  gach  earrainn  de  na  duthchanan  anns  na  chum  an 
Gaidheal,  an  Coimreach,  's  am  Frangach  uachdranachd. 

Tha  daoine  foghluimte,  's  tuigseach  a'  co-aontachadh  gur  Feill 
Cheilteach,  no  Feill  Ghaidhealach  a  tha  'n  so,  a  thainig  a  nuas 
thugainn  bho  'n  am  'san  robh  an  Creideamh  Druidheach,  suidhichte 
ann  am  Breatuinn,  an  Eirinn,  'san  Fhraing,  agus  anns  a  mhor-chuid 
de'n  Eoinn-Eorpa,  oir  tha  Cicero  ainmeil  ag  radh,  gu'm  be  na 
Druidhich  a  thoisich,  a  dhealbhaich,  's  a  shuidhich  faoin-sheanchas, 
agus  faoin-chrabhadh,  ann  an  ama  ro-chein,  agus  mar  sin,  be  na 
Druidhich  a  thug  do  'n  t-saoghal  na  cleachdaidhean  cumanta  bha 
ceangailte  ri  faoin-chrabhadh,  's  faoin-sheanchas  nan  Cinneach. 
Mheudaich  na  Greugaich  's  na  Romanaich,  gu  h-araidh,  na  Baird 
Ghreugach,  's  na  Baird  Komanach  am  faoin-sheanchas  so,  agus 
thruaill  iad  faoin-chrabhadh  nan  Druidh,  le  cur  an  ceill  gu  pear- 
santa — (no  mar  their  sinn  sa  Bheurla  "by  personifying") — gach  cruth 
nadurra,  gach  gluasad,  a's  durachd,  a  tha  'n  inntinn,  am  beachd,  's  an 
smuaintean  an  duine.  Thainig  iomadh  de  na  cleachdaidhean  so, 
a  bha  feumail  a's  buannachdail,  air  tus,  gu  bhi  air  an  truailleadh  le 
sluagh  aiueolach,  fada  mu'n  d'  rainig  iad  gu  deadh-bheus,  rian, 
agus  modh  nan  Greugach,  's  nan  Eomanach. 

Anns  na  linntean  an  deigh  has  an  t-Slanuighfhear,  's  anns, 
gu  sonruichte,  na  linntean  meadhonach,  eadar  an  t-am  sin  agus  an 
diugh,  bha  ni  sonrichte  ri  fhaicinn,  's  air  a  thaisbeanadh  ann  a 
Morthir  na  h-Eorpa,  ann  am  Breatuinn,  's  anns  an  Aird-an-Ear 
cuideachd,  an  Eaglais  Chriosduibh  comhraigeadh  ri  cleasan,  's  gnath- 
aoradh  nan  Druidhach,  bha  'san  uair  sin  ro-chumanta,  agus  gle 
thaitneach  do'n  an  t-sluagh,  agus,  truaillidh  mar  bha  na  nithean  so, 
's  na  gnathan  sin,  bha  abstoilean,  teachdairean,  's  muinntir  an 
t-soisgeul,  neo-chomasach,  air  an  cuir  as,  no  air  an  cuir  bun-os-ceann, 
no  air  an  dith-mhilleadh.  Air  sin,  thoisich  fir-dhreuchd  a'  chreidimh 
nuaidh  air  tarruing  an  t-sluaigh  bho  na  gnathan  a  bha  aca,  's  gu 
'n  taladh  a  dh-ionnsuidh  an  t-soisgeul,  le  bhi  co-cheangladh  nan 


138  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

gnathan  so,  's  nan  cleaclidaidhean  sin,  ri  gnathan  eile  chuir 
air  an  chois.  Air  an  aobhair  sin  dh'ordaich  fir-dhreuchd  na 
h-Eaglais  Ohriosduibh  's  shuidhich  iad  Feill  ur,  aig  am  Feill 
nan  Druidheach,  oir  neo,  thug  iad  oidhiep  air  an  fheill  phaganach 
atharrachadh  gu  am  Feill  na  h-Eaglais  a  bha  cheana  suidhichte. 
Bho  'n  am  so,  's  bho  'n  sin  a  mach,  tha  againn  air  an  latha  's  air  an 
oidhche  so — Feill  Eaglais  na  Eoimh,  "  Latha  na  h-uile  Naoimh  " 
"  Feasgair  na  h-uile  Naoimh  "  a's  "  Oidhche  na  h-uile  Naoimh,"  air 
an  toirt  fainear,  agus  air  an  coimhead  le  Eaglais  na  Eoimh,  's  le 
Eaglais  Shasuinn,  air  a  cheud  latha  de  'n  cheud  mhios  de'n  gheamh- 
radh  o  chionn  deich  ceud  bliadhna,  ann  an  cuimhneachan  air  na 
Naoimh  's  na  Martairich  sin,  air  son  nach  robh  comas  aca  latha 
s6nruichte  chur  fa  leth,  do  na  h-uile  neach  dhiubh.  Bha  na 
Naoimh  so  co  lionmbor  's  nach  b-urrainn  doibh  latha  fa  leth  a  chur 
air  taobh  air  son  gach  aon  dhiubh.  Gu  dearbh  cha  robh  lathan 
gu  Ie6r  'sa  bhliadhna  air  son  an  run  so.  Mar  sin  anns  a  bhliadhna 
837  bha  'n  ceud  latha  de'n  cheud  mhios  a'  gheamhraidh  air 
ordachadh  airson  gach  leithid  Naomh  's  martairach  aig  nach  robh 
latha  sonruichte  dhoibh  fein.  Mar  so,  chi  sinn  gu'm  bheil  bun  a's 
freumh  nan  cleachdaidhean  cumanta  na  latha,  's  na  h-oidhche  so,  a 
bha  cho  taitneach  dhuinne  an  laithean  ar  n-6ige,  'sa  tha  taitneach 
dhuinn  fhathasd,  a  bha  cho  cumanta  n-ar  duthaich  fein,  's  ann  an 
duthcha  eile — seadh,  gu'm  bheil  bun  a's  freumh  nan  cleachduidhean 
sin  ann  an  aidmheil  nan  Druidheach,  's  a  thainig  gu  bhi  co-chean- 
gailte  ris  an  latha,  's  ris  an  oidhche  so,  agus  an  deigh  sin,  bha  iad 
ceadaichte  leis  an  Eaglais  suas  gu  'sa  bhliadhna  837. 

Air  tus,  bha  Latha  nan  uile  Naomh  air  a  chumail  air  a  cheud 
latha  de'n  Cheitein  (May-day) — latha  f  eill  eile  bha  aig  na  Druidh- 
ich.  Bha  'n  latha  so,  suidhichte  le  Papa  Boniface,  anns  a' 
bhliadhna  610,  'n  uair  a  thug  Impire  na  Eoimh  cead  dha  teampuill 
nan  uile  dia  breige  (Pantheon)  a  choisrigeadh  do  'n  Oigh  Moire,  's 
do  na  h-uile  martaireach.  Ach  anns  a  bhliadhna  837,  dh'  atharraich 
am  Papa  Gregory  coimhead  feill  an  latha  so,  gus  a  cheud  latha  de'n 
cheud  mhi6s  de'n  gheamhradh,  ann  an  run,  gu'm  bitheadh  e  na  bu 
fhreagarraiche  do  na  creidmhich  a  thighinn  air  thurus  do'n  Eoimh, 
an  deigh  do'n  arbhar  a  bhi  air  a  chruinneachadh  gu  compairteachadh 
ann  'san  fheill,  's  anns  a  chuirm,  a  bha  gnathail  air  an  latha  so. 
Ann  an  so,  chi  sin  gu'm  bheil  am  mor-chuid  de  ghnath  aoraidhean 
Eaglais  na  Eoimh  a's  Eaglais  Shasuinn,  air  an  suidheachadh  air 
steidh  cleachdaidhean  nan  cinneach  paganach,  'san  Aird-an-Tar, 
'san  Aird-an-Ear,  a's  taobh  tuath  na  h-E&rpa — An  Gaidheal,  an  t-Eir- 
ionnach,  an  Coimreach,  an  Frangach — bha  iad  uile  gu  follaiseach 
na'  n  Druidhich.  Chi  sinn  so  cuideachd,  co  se61ta,  co  innleachdail, 
co  glic,  a  bha,  's  tha  fathasd,  Eaglais  na  Eoimh  air  cur  as  gnathan 


Oidhche  Shamhna.  139 

nan  Druidheach,  a's  gnathan  aoradh  eile,  le  'n  co-cheangal  ri  'n 
gnathan  aoraidh  fein,  agus  an  diugh  chi  sinn  an  Eaglais  so  a'  toirt 
barrachd  air  na  h-uile  Eaglais  eile,  ann  am  bith  's  ann  an  gniomh  a 
luchd  teachdaireachd. 

Ann  'sa'  Choimreach  (Wales),  bha  'n  oidhche  so  ro  thaitneach 
leis  an  t-sluagh,  's  bha  cleachdaidhean  nan  Druidheach  gle  chu- 
manta.  Abraidh  iad  rithe — "  Nos-calan-gauaf  ;  (Nos — oidhche  ; 
calan — a  cheud  latha  de'n  mhios,  no  cheud  latha  de'n  bhliadhna — 
calluinn,  mar  their  sinne ;  gauaf — geamhradh).  Tha  gnathan  na 
h-oidhche  so  fathasd  cumanta  measg  nan  Coimreach,  mar  tha  iad 
anns  na  h-uile  duthaich  eile  a  tha  aitichte  le  gineal  a's  iarmad 
nan  Ceilteach.  Ged  a  chaill  an  fheill  so'mor-chuid  de  na  mheas  leis 
an  robh  i  air  a  coimhead  anns  an  am  bho  chein,  tha  "  Oidhche 
Shamhna,"  fathasd,  do  mhiltean  de  theaghlaichan  nan  Gaidheal,  nan 
Eirionnach,  nan  Coimreach,  's  nam  Frangach,  ann  anglinn  uaigneach, 
air  taobh  an  t-sleibhe,  aig  bun  na  beinne,  anns  a'  bhaile  nihor,  's  a' 
bhaile  bheag,  's  anns  gach  clachan,  'na  h-oidhche  aoibhneach, 
shubhach,  chridheil,  aighearach,  agus  shuigeartach,  's  gu'ma  fada 
bhitheas  i  mar  sin  do  mhuinntir  mo  dhu^cha  's  mo  chridhe ! 

Air  an  oidhche  so,  bu  ghnath  leis  na  Coimreich  (Welsh)  anns 
na  h-ama  a  dh'  fhalbh  teine  m6r,  teine  aighir  a  chur  suas,  's  a 
dheanamh,  ris  an  abrair,  "  Coel-gerth.  "  nach  fhaicear  a  nis  ach  gle 
ainmic.  Chuir  an  cion-fath  ceudna  as  di  so,  's  a  chur  as,  a  bhi 
cumail  "  Lath  Bealtuinn "  anns  a'  Ghaidhealtachd.  Tha  am 
focal  "  Coel-gerth  "  coltach  ri  freumh  focal  Druidheach.  Coel — 
comharradh,  gath-teine  rabhaidh  (beacon).  Tha  e  coltach  gu'rn 
bheil  am  focal  Gaidhealach,  Bealtuinn,  ni  's  nuadha  na  'm  focal  ud, 
oir  tha  e  samhlachadh  Teine-Bhail,  's  maith  a  dh-fheudta,  air  a 
tharruing  bho  'n  fhocal  Dhruidheach,  Ab-haul-tau  (bho  teine,  no 
teas  na  greine),  no  mar  theireadh  an  Coimreach — mac  na  grian 
dealrach,  toirt  blaths'  a's  teas,  a's  cinneas  do'n  talamh ;  mar  a  thubh- 
airt  am  Bard  Gaidhealach,  gu'  ro-mhath,  's  ro-bhoidheach — 

"  Beatha  's  Calltuinn,  Latha  Bealtuinn 
Gealltanach  air  blaths'." 

'S  iomadh  gnath,  a's  cleachdadh,  a  dheanadh  na  Coimrich  air 
an  oidhche  so  :  chuirear  suas,  's  lasar  teintein,  dheanar  m6ran  de 
dheas  ghnatha  mu  'n  cuairt  doibh,  agus  trompa  bho  thaobh  gu 
taobh.  Tha  Mr.  Owen  ag  aithrs  an  iomradh  nam  Bard,  gu  'n  robh 
na  teintein  so  air  an  cur  suas  aig  deireadh  an  fhoghair,  's  gu  'n 
robh  iomadh  deas-ghnath,  a's  cleachdaidhean  air  an  cur  an  gniomh. 
Am  measg  a  leithid  sin,  bhitheadh  scan  a's  6g  duine  a's  bean, 
gille  a's  gruagach,  a'  ruith  'sa  leum  troimh  an  teine,  's  troimh  na 


1 40  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

cheo.  Bhitheadh  na  h-uile  aon  a'  tilgeadh  clach  gheal,  bha  'n 
toiseach  air  a  comharrachadh,  anns'  an  teine,  's  gach  neach  a  ruith 
troimhe,  chum  nach  glacadh  a  mhuc  ghoirid  dhubh  iad  (samhladh 
do'n  bhan-dia  Annhras,  ban-dia  a  gheamhraidh),  bho  'n  so,  ban  dia 
na  sgrios,  an  droch  spiorad,  an  diabhuL  An  deigh  so  dh-itheadh 
iad  suipeir  de  churrannan  geala  (Parsley),  ubhlan  a's  cnothan.  An 
deigh  sin,  ghlacadh  iad  le  'm  beul  a  mhain  ubhlan  crochte  le 
sreang,  's  mar  an  ceudna,  ubhlan  ann  an  cudain  Ian  de  bhurn. 
An  uair  eile,  thilgeadh  iad  cnothan  's  an  teine.  A  chn6  sin  a 
loisgeadh  le  dealrachd,  samhlachd  do'n  fhear  do'm  bu  leis  i, 
sonas,  soirbheachadh,  a's  fortan,  anns  a'  bhliadhna  'bha  tighinn ; 
ach  na  cnothan  a  loisgeadh  dubhach,  no  spreadhach  le  toirm — 
mi-shealbh,  mi-shonas,  a's  tubaist.  Air  an  ath-mhaduinn, 
dheanair  sireadh  airson  nan  clachan  geala  a  churrair  anns  an 
teine  an  oidhche  roimhe.  Ma  bha  aon  diubh  air  chall — 
thachradh  gu  h-olc  dhasan  nach  b'urrainn  a  chlach  fhoighinn. 
Bha'n  cleachdadh  ceudna  anns  a'  Ghaidhealtachd.  Chunnacas 
an  Earraghaidheal  's  an  Siorramachd  Pheairt  an  ceart  chleachdadh 
so.  Ann  an  Sgireachd  Challandair  bhitheadh  teine  mor  air  a  chur 
suas  'san  oidhche  so  anns  gach  clachan.  'N  uair  a  chaitheadh  an 
teine,  thionaileas  an  luath  gu  curamach.  Bha  clach  a  nis  air  a  cur 
sios  mu'n  cuairb  do'n  luath,  airson  na  h-uile  neach  de  'na  teaghlaich- 
ean  a  ghabh  suim  air  togail  an  teine,  agus  cia  b'  e  air  bith  a  chlach 
cha  ghluaiseadh,  no  cha  mhilheadh  roimh  an  ath-mhaduinn,  bha  'm 
fear  no'n  te  sin  do'm  buineadh  a'  chlach  air  an  toirt  thairis  ann  am 
barail  nach  bitheadh  iad  beo,  an  latha  sin,  'san  ath  bhliadna.  Ann 
am  Bochain,  's  ann  an  taobh  Mhorraidh,  bha  teintean  mar  so,  air 
am  fadadh,  air  an  oidhche  so.  Anns  an  taobh  deas,  's  anns  an  taobh 
tuath  bha  na  nidhean  so  mar  an  ceudna.  'Nach  eil  e  na  ni  ro- 
iongantach,  a  bhi  faighinn  mach  gnathan  mar  so,  agus  co  cosmhuil 
ri  cheile,  ann  an  tir  nan  Coimreach,  's  ann  an  tir  nan  Gaidheal  an 
aon  rud  ?  Ciod  e  tha  so  ag  innse  dhuinn  1  Tha  gu  dearbh,  gu  'n 
robh  uine  ann,  anns  an  robh  an  sluagh  'n  an  aon  shluagh,  no  gu 
'n  robh  aon  aidmheil  aca.  Ciod  a  dh-abradh  Maois  ciuin  ris  na 
cleachdaidhean  so  ?  A  dol  troimh  an  teine  ! !  !  Nach  bitheadh  a 
chorraich  a  lasadh  !  !  !  'Ne  na  Gaidheil,  's  na  Coimreich,  's  na 
Ceiltich  eile — gineal  nan  Canaanach  o'  shean,  a  dh-fhuathaich  Maois 
cinealta  co  mor  ?  Tha  e  soilleir  gu  leoir  gu  'n  robh  diadhachd, 
crabhachd,  's  creidimh  nan  Caledonianach,  nam  Breatuineach,  nan 
Eirionnach,  's  nam  Frangach  'o  shean  cosmhail,  's  an  aon  ni,  ris 
na  gnathan,  's  na  cleachdaidhean  a  tha  Eachdraidh  a'  toirt 
dhuinn  a  bha  aig  na  Canaanaich,  na  Tyrianaich,  na  Sidonianaich, 
na  Philistinich,  na  Babilonaich,  na  Persianaich,  na  Phcenicianaich 
's  na  Carthaginianaich,  dearbhadh  gu  'n  tharmaich,  's  gu  'n  d'  thainig 
na  Ceiltich  's  na  Gaidheil  uile  bho  'n  Aird-an-Ear. 


Oidhche  Shamhna.  141 

Dh-Fheudadh  crabhadh,  a's  diadhachd  nan  Druidh  a  bhi  air  a 
thruailleadh  leis  na  Canaanaich  Roimh  am  an  Exodus,  mar  bha  'n 
crabhadh  Criosduibh  air  a  thruailleadh  (mar  tha  mise  'creidsinn) 
ann  an  Eaglais  na  Eoimh  anns  na  linntean  a  chaidh  seachad,  bho 
'n  f  hior  chrabhadh  a  thaisbeanadh  air  tus  leis  na  h-Abstoilean,  leis 
na  Deisciobailean,  's  le  Criosd  fein.  Gu  dearbh  tha  e  iongantach 
nach  do  thruailleadh  crabhadh  nan  Druidh  anns  na  duthcha  so. 
Einn  na  Druidh  aoradh  do'n  Chruithfhear  a  mhain.  Mheas  iad 
aghaidh  na  greine  mar  aghaidh  a  Chruithfhear,  a  toirt  blaths,  a's 
teas,  soirbheachas,  sonas.  a's  slainte  do  dhuine,  do  bheathach,  's 
do'n  Chruitheachd  uile. 

Ni  eile  thainig  a  m'  ionnsuidh.  Tha  e  air  aithris  gu  'n  dean 
luchd  aiteachadh  St.  Kilda  bonnach  tri-oisinneach  fhuinneadh  air 
au  oidhche  so,  a  tarruing  claisean  innte  mar  so  /|\.  Bha  'm 
bonnach  so  gu  bhi  air  itheadh  'san  oidhche  so.  Gu  de  tha  'n  comh- 
arradh  so  a'  ciallachadh?  'Se  so,  comharradh  a  bha  aca,  an  am 
nan  Druidheach,  a'  ciallachadh  gathan  na  greine.  'Se  so  cuideachd, 
fuigheal  nan  gnathan  a  fhuair  sinn  bho'r  sinnsear. 

Bha  cheud  latha  de  cheud  mhios  a'  gheamhraidh  air  a  mheas 
ann  an  aitibh,  mar  an  tiom  gle  fhreagarach  airson  buidheachas  a 
thoirt  do'n  Chruithfhear  airson  toradh  an  talmhainn  a  bha  nise  air 
a  thional.  Air  an  aobhar  sin  dh'ainmich  na  h-Eiroinnaich  an 
latha  so,  "  La-meas-ubhal"  's  choimhead  iad  an  latha  mar  latha 
Feill,  ag  ol  deoch  a  rinnear  de  ubhlan  roiste,  lionn,  no  bainne. 
Fhuair  an  deoch  so,  ann  an  tiom,  an  t-ainm  so,  " Lamb's  Wool" 
bho,  "  La-meas-ubhal." 

Air  feadh  's  air  fad  nan  Eileanan  Breatuinneach,  tha  na  cleachd- 
aidh  fhleadhach,  fheisdeach,  aoibhneach,  chridheil,  comh-ionann  a's 
cosmhuill  ri  cheile.  Sheinn  na  Baird  anns  gach  tir  cliu  na  h-oidhche 
so  a's  ainmealachd  nan  gnathan  's  nan  cleachdadh.  Burns  ann 
an  Alba,  Gay  ann  an  Sasuinn,  Graydon  ann  an  Eirinn,  Beranger 
anns  an  Fhraing ;  agus  c  'aite  am  bheil  an  Gaidheal  aig  nach  eil 
deadh  chuimhne  bheothafl.  air  "  Oidhche  Shamhna  "  tos  a'  gheamh- 
raidh ! 

Slan  leibh  a  dhaoine  mo  chridhe  !  Tha  mo  dheadh  dhurachd 
maille  ribh.  Slan  leibh  !  An  latha  'chi,  's  nach  fhaic  ! 

22ND  DECEMBER,  1880. 

At  the  meeting  on  this  date  the  Secretary  read  a  Gaelic  trans- 
lation by  Mrs.  Mary  Mackellar,  the  bard  of  the  Society,  of  the 
"  Execution  of  Montrose."  Like  the  rest  of  the  late  Professor 
Aytoun's  "  Lays  of  the  Scottish  Cavaliers,"  "  The  Execution  of 
Montrose  "  is  copyright ;  but  by  the  permission  and  courtesy  of  the 


1 42  Gaelic  Society  of  In  verness. 

publishers,  Messrs.  Win.  Blackwood  &  Sons,  and  of  Professor 
Aytoun's  executors,  we  are  enabled  to  place  Mrs.  Mackellar's  trans- 
lation of  it  in  full  before  the  members  of  the  Society.  Jt  is  as 
follows : — 


Thig  an  so  Ebbhain  Chamshroin 

Is  seas  ri  m'  ghlun  a  luaidh, 
Tha  mi  'cluinntinn  toirm  na  h-aibhne 

"Tighinn  le  tuil-bheum  dh'  ionnsuidh  'chuain. 
Tha  gair  ri  taobh  na  beinn'  ud  shuas, 

Fuaim  cogaidh  anns  a  ghaoth  : 
Mo  sheann  luchd  eblais  'g  amharc  orm 

'S  iad  gabhail  seach  na'n  sgaoth. 
Tha  mi  'cluinntinn  sgal  na  pioba 

Ann  an  toiteal  dhian  nan  tuagh, 
'S  air  faireadh  ciar  na  h-oidhche 

Tha  m'  f  hann'  spiorad  dusgadh  suas. 

ii. 

Is  mis'  'bh'air  ceann  nan  Gaidheal 

A  trebrachadh  am  feachd — 
Troimh  ghleanntan  ard  Lochabar 

Is  iad  comhdaichte  le  sneachd 
An  uair  chaidh  luchd  nam  breacan 

A  chogadh  le  Montros, 
'S  gur  lionmhor  Gall  a  leagadh  leo 

Fo  ruinn  an  cloidh'ean  m6r. 
Is  trie  a  dh'inns  mi  dhuit  a  ruin 

Na  thuit  do  Chlann-o-Duin' 
Mu  chladach  Inbhir-Lochaidh 

'Nuair  a  cho'luich  iad  na  suinn, 
Mar  a  ghlan  sguabadh  leinn  Dun-dea' — 

Uaibhre  Lindsay  thug  gu  lar, — 
Ach  cha  d'  inns  mi  riamh  dhuit  mar  a  fhuair 

Am  Marcus  Uaibhreach  bas. 

ni. 

Reic  slaoightire  ri  'naisahdean  e — 

0  gniomh  na  nkire  bhuan ; 
Tha  mi  'g  aithne  ort  a  ghiullain 

Mu  thachras  aon  do  'n  t  shluagh 
A  bhuinneas  do  shiol  Assuint  ort 

Biodh  e  air  gual'  an  t-sleibh, 


The  Execution  of  Montrose.  143 

Biodh  e  le  buidheann  armuichte, 

No  siubhal  ghleann  leis  fein ; 
Seas  ris — mar  ris  an  daoi  a  chuir 

Cliu  t-athar  fein  gu  tair, 
Cuimhnich  an  fhuil  o'n  tainig  thu, 

Is  buail  an  cu  gu  lar. 

IV. 

Thug  iad  e  gu  geat-an-uisg' 

'Se  ceangailte  gu  teann' 
Mar  gu'm  biodh  aca  leomhan 

'S  cha  b'e  duine  claoidhte  fann ; 
Sin  chuir  iad  e  gu  h-ard  air  cairt 

'S  an  crochadair  shios  fuidh  ; 
Kuisgjiad  a  bhathais  's  cheangail  iad, 

A  lamhan  air  a  chul ; 
'S  mar  chu  a  leigeadh  tu  a  eill 

Bha  guth  a  bhorb  shluaigh  dian 
Le  iollach  allda  'g  eigheach  ris 

E  ghabhail  seachad  'sios. 

v. 

0  bheireadh  e  air  cridhe  laoich 

Fas  tursach  agus  tinn, 
Bhi  'faicinn  nan  sul  naimhdeal 

A  bha  sealltuinn  as  an  cinn, 
Bha  Cuigse  ghlas  na  h-airde-'n-iar 

Na'n  suidhe  ard  le  uaill — 
Am  mnathan  preasach  maille  riu 

'S  an  nigheanan  gun  tuar, 
Gach  Cumhnantach  le  fhalluing  dhuibh 

Air  ealaidh  mhath  an  ti, 
'S  na  h-uile  uinneag  bha  co  Ian, 

'Sa  b'  urrainn  di  a  bhi. 

VI. 

Ach  'n  uair  a  thainig  esan, 

Is  ard  mhoralachd  na  ghnuis, 
Uaisle  na  aghaidh  dhuineil 

Agus  ciuine  chalm  na  'shuil, 
Dh'fhuirich  am  prabar  samhach, 

An  an  ail  mhuch  a  ghraisg, 
Bha  fios  ac'  gu'n  robh  cri'  an  laoich 

'Cur  aghaidh  ris  a'  bhas. 


1 44  Gaelic  Society  of  In  vern  ess. 

'S  chaidh  ball-chrith  uamhain  bkr6nach 
Air  feadh  an  t-sluaigh  gu  tur 

'S  ged  thaining  iad  a  mhagadh  air 
'S  ann  thoisich  iad  ri  gul. 


VII. 

Air  aghart  is  air  aghart, 

Ann  an  samhchair  is  an  gruaim 
Gus  tigh  na  binn  an  d'  rainig  iad 

Chaidh  'n  comhlan  brbnach  truagh  ; 
Sin  chualas  ard-ghuth  boireannaich 

Hi  gaire  magaidh  geur, 
Is  dh'  eirich  iollach  fheargach, 

A  suas  o'n  t-sluagh  gu  leir ; 
'S  'nuair  sheall  an  aird  an  Greumach 

Chunnaic  e  gaire  grannd 
An  fhir  a  reic  air  6r  a  righ, 

An  t-ard-dheamhan  Arragbaidh'l. 

VIII. 

Dh'  amhairc  am  Marcus  air  a  namh 

Is  ged  a  bha  e  balbh, 
Thainig  neul  a'  bhais  air  Arraghaidh'l, 

Is  thionndaidh  e  air  falbh. 
Thuit  uamhan  air  an  te  gun  fhiu, 

Gu  daithte  shuidh  ri  thaobh  : 
Bha  duirn  ga'm  maoidheadh  ris  's  an  t-sraid 

'S  mar  thairneineach  bha  ghaoir ; 
'S  ghlaodh  saighdear  Sasunnach  a  mach, 

A  chladhaire  ga'  nunn 
Tha  seachd  bliadhna  o'n  bha  chridhe  agad, 

Aon  sealladh  thoirt  'na  ghnuis. 

IX. 

0  na'n  ro'  mis'  an  sin  le  m'  chlaidheamh 

'S  leth-cheud  Camshronach  ri  m'  thaobh 
Roimh  shraidean  ard  Dhuneideann 

Eachadh  s!6gan  nach  biodh  faoin ; 
Cha  tilleadh  trup  nam  marc-each  sinn, 

No  neart  nam  fear  fo'n  airm  ; 
No  h-uile  Reubalach  's  an  deas 

Air  ais  sinn  le  an  stoirm  ; 


The  Execution  of  Mont  rose.  145 

Bhiodh  esan  is  a  chos  air  fraoch 

Co  saor  ri  gaoth  nan  ard  j 
No  bhithinnse  's  mo  chinneadh  leis 

Na'r  laidhe  anns  a'  bhks  ! 

x. 

Cha  robh  sud  's  an  dan.     'S  thug  iad  e  rls 

Do  thalla  anns  am  b'abhaisd 
Do  righrean  Albuinn  suidhe 

Ann  am  measg  an  uailsean  ard. 
Ach  tha  'n  t-urlar  air  a  shalachadh 

Le  duslach  cos  nan  daoi', 
'S  luchd  mionnan  breig  na'n  suidhe 

Ann  an  cathraichean  nan  saoi, 
Le  aoibhneas  borb  leugh  Warristun 

Binn  mort  a'  Chuiridh  mhoir ; 
'S  an  sin  am  meadhoin  an  t-se6mair 

Ghrad  dh'  eirich  suas  Montros. 

XI. 

Nis  air  mo  bhriath'r  mar  ridire, 

Is  air  an  ainm  is  learn, 
Agus  air  crois  Naomh  Aindreas 

Tha  'crathadh  os  ar  ceann, 
Seadh,  is  le  mionn  is  m6  na  sin, 

Bheir  mi  mo  bh6id  a  nis, 
Air  an  tuil  dheirg  do  dh-fhuil  ar  righ, 

Euith  eadar  sibhs'  is  mis', 
Cha  ro'  mi  'n  duil  gu  'm  buidh'ninn  fein 

Crun  mairtearaich  na  m'  bhas — 
Cha  d'  iarr  mi  anns  an  arfhaich  riamh 

Fleasg  ga  'm  bheil  gloir  co  ard. 

xn. 

Na,  'n  tamh  an  se6mar  fad  air  falbh, 

'S  trom  suain  nam  math  's  nan  treun, 
Ach  ait  nis  fearr  tha  sibhs  toirt  domhs 

Na  'n  uaigh  aig  m'  athair  fein  ; 
Le  firinn  's  ceart  an  aghaidh  foill, 

Thog  mise  riamh  mo  lamh, 
'San  lathair  neamh  is  talamh, 

Togaibhs'  i  na  fianuis  ard. 
Cuiribh  air  an  tur  mo  cheann, 

Sgapaibh  gach  ball  o  cheil' ; 
Trusar  le  Dia  a  chruthaich  iad — 

Uaithse  theid  mi'  thuige  fein  !  10 


146  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

XIII. 

Bu  dorcha  bhris  a'  mhaduinn, 

'Sam  measg  nam  frasan  fuar 
Las  beithir  agus  dealanach, 

Am  baile  bha  fo  ghxuaiin, 
Bhris  tairneanach  air  aird  an  speur, 

Oir  thainig  uair  a'  bhais, 
'S  bha  cuthach  air  an  talamh, 

Agus  fearg  's  na  neamhan  ard  ; 
Thainig  am  bochd  'sam  beairteacb, 

Is  thainig  sean  is  6g 
A  dh-fhaicinn  an  laoich  uasail  so, 

'S  iad  a'  toirt  uaithe  'n  de6. 

XIV. 

0  Dhia  !  an  ard  chroich  uamhan  ud, 

Gu'm  b'oillteil  bhi,  a  ghaoil, 
A'  sealltuinn  air  a  chnamhluich  ard, 

Am  faradh  is  a'  chraobh. 
Eisd  !  eisd  !  tha  fuaim  nan  arm  an  sud, 

Na  cluig  tha  'bualadh  dian. 
Tha  e  'tighinn  !  tha  e  'tighinn  ! 

O  dean  trocair  air,  a  Dhia. 
An  sin  thainig  aon  bhragh  tairneanaich, 

Is  sgap  na  neoil  o'  cheil — 
'S  bha  'n  latha  air  a  lasadh  suas 

Le  gathan  geal  na  grein'. 

xv. 

Tha  e  'tighinn  !  tha  e  'tighinn  ! 

Mar  fhear-bainns'  a  sheomair  graidh 
Thainig  an  laoch  a  phriosan, 

Chum  na  croiche  is  a'  bhais  ; 
Bha  dearsa'  gloir  mu  'bhathais 

Is  'na  shuU  bha  lainnir  chaoin, 
'S  cha  ro'  a  cheum  co  statail  riamh 

'Na  thriath  air  ceann  a  laoich. 
'ISTa  aodann-sa  bha  rughadh 

Ged  bha  each  's  an  gruaidhean  ban, 
Is  b'  ioghna'  leo  'nuair  ghabh  e  seach' 

Co  moralach  's  co  ard. 

XVI. 

Dhirich  e  chroich,  is  thionndaidh  e, 
Is  dh-amhairc  e  mu'n  cuairt, 

Ach  cha  leigeadh  iad  leis  labhairt 
Oir  bha  eagal  orr'  roimh  'n  t-sluagh  ; 


The  Execution  of  Montrose.  147 

Ach  sheall  esan  ris  na  neamhan  shuas, 

Co  fiorghlan  is  co  ciuin, 
Is  suil  Dhe  a'  dearsaidh  nuas  air 

O'n  ghorm-bhrat  aillidh  iir. 
Ged  bha  barra-bhalla  dubh  gruamach  thall 

Os  ceann  a'  chnuic  na  thamh, 
'S  coltas  tairneanach  na  chodal  ann 

Bha  'n  corr  gu  sltheil  seimh. 

XVII 

Bba  ministearan  Gheneva  'tigbinn 

Gu  mugach  mu'n  cuairt  da, 
Mar  a  chitbeadb  tu  na  fitbicb 

'Tigbinn  mu'n  fhiadh  's  an  tarruing  bhais, 
Ach  cha  tug  e  dhoibh  aon  fhocal, 

'S  ann  a  chrom  e  cheann,  mo  ghaol, 
'Sa  folach  aghaidb  dh'  iarr  e  gras 

'0  Chriosd  aig  bun  na  craoibh, 
An  sin  dh'  eirich  e  gu  lainnearach  ciuin, 

Is  thilg  e  chle6c  gu  lar, 
Is  ghabh  e  'n  sealladh  deireanacb, 

Do  thalamh,  grian,  is  la. 

XVIII. 

Mar  gh!6ir  mu'n  cuairt  do'n  anam  mhaith 

Dhearrs  6r-gbath  air  gu  seimh, 
Is  dhirich  e  am  faradh, 

Mar  gu'm  b'e  an  ceum  gu  neamh, 
Thainig  lasair  as  an  dubh-neul  ud 

Is  tairneauach  le  fuaim, 
Is  bba  eagal  air  gach  anam, 

Is  cha  shealladh  neach  diubh  suas, 
Bha  fuaim  a  rith'sd  ann,  's  tacan  tosd — 

'Sa  rithisd  osna  gheur — 
Obair  a'  bhais  bha  deannta, 

'S  chomhduich  dorchadas  an  speur ! 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


HONORARY    CHIEFTAINS. 

Sir  Kenneth  S.  Mackenzie  of  Gairloch,  Bart. 
Professor  John  Stuart  Blackie,  Edinburgh  University. 
Charles  Fraser-Mackintosh  of  Drummond,  M.P. 
Cluny  Macpherson  of  Cluny  Macpherson. 

LIFE    MEMBERS. 

Burgess,  Peter,  factor  for  Glenmoriston,  Drumnadrochit. 

Chisholm-Gooden,  James,  33  Tavistock  Square,  London. 

Cluny  Macpherson  of  Cluny  Macpherson. 

Forbes,  Alexander,  San  Francisco. 

Fraser-Mackintosh,  Charles,  of  Drummond,  M.P. 

Macdonald,  Lachlan,  of  Skaebost,  Skye. 

Mackay,  Donald,  Gampola,  Kandy,  Ceylon. 

Mackay,  George  F.,  Koxburgh,  Otago,  New  Zealand. 

Mackay,  James,  Eoxburgh,  Otago,  New  Zealand. 

Mackay,  John,  C.E.,  Swansea. 

Mackay,  John,  of  Ben  Reay,  Herriesdale,  Dalbeattie. 

Mackenzie,  Sir  Kenneth  S.,  of  Gairloch,  Bart. 

Mackenzie,  Allan  K.,  yr.  of  Kintail. 

Scobie,  Captain  N. .,  late  of  Fearn,  Boss-shire. 

HONORARY    MEMBERS. 

Anderson,  James,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Black,  Eev.  Dr.,  Inverness. 

Blackie,  Professor  John  Stuart,  Edinburgh  University. 

Bourke,  Very  Rev.  Canon,  Kilcolman,  Claremorris,  Mayo. 

Burgess,  Alexander,  Caledonian  Bank,  Gairloch. 

Cameron,  Donald,  of  Clunes,  Inverness. 

Cameron,  Ewen,  manager  of  the  Hong-Kong  and  Shanghai  Banking 

Company,  at  Shanghai. 

Campbell,  Duncan,  editor,  "  Northern  Chronicle,"  Inverness. 
Cameron,  James  Eandal,  Jacksonville,  Oregon. 
Campbell,  George  Murray,  Gampola,  Ceylon. 
Chisholm,  Captain  A.  Macra,  Glassburn,  Strathglass. 


150  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness- 

Davidson,  Donald,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Ferguson,  Mrs.,  Trevandrum,  Travancore. 

Fraser,  Alexander,  Provost  of  Inverness. 

Fraser,  A.  T.  F.,  clothier,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Huntly,  Kinmyles,  Inverness. 

Grant,  John,  Cardiff,  Wales. 

Grant,  General  Sir  Patrick,  G.C.B.,  Chelsea,  London. 

Grant,  Eobert,  of  Messrs.  Macdougall  &  Co.,  Inverness. 

Grant,  Major  W.,  Drambuie,  Glen-Urquhart. 

Innes,  Charles,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Jenkins,  E.  P.,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Jerram,  C.  S.,  M.A.,  Woodcote  House,  Windlesham. 

Jolly,  William,  H.M.  Inspector  of  Schools,  Albyn  Place,  Inverness. 

Macandrew,  H.  C.,  sheriff-clerk,  Inverness-shire. 

MacConnachie,  John,  Mayor  of  Cardiff. 

Macdonald,  Alexander,  Balranald,  Uist. 

Macdonald,  Allan,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Andrew,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Baillie,  Aberdeen. 

Macdonald,  Captain  D.  P.,  Ben  Nevis  Distillery,  Fort-William. 

Macdonald,  John,  Marine  Hotel,  Nairn. 

Macdonell,  Patrick,  Kinchyle,  Dores. 

Mackay,  Charles,  LL.D.,  Fern  Dell  Cottage,  near  Dorking. 

Mackay,  Donald,  San  Francisco,  California. 

Mackay,  John  Stuart,  San  Francisco,  California. 

Mackay,  Neil,  Penylan  House,  Pencoed,  Bridgend,  Wales. 

Mackenzie,  Kev.  A.  D.,  Free  Church,  Kilmorack. 

Mackenzie,    Captain   Colin,  late   of   78th    Highlanders,    49  Pall 

Mall,  London. 

Mackenzie,  Colonel  Hugh,  of  Parkmount,  Forres. 
Mackenzie,  John,  M.D.,  of  Eileanach,  Inverness. 
Mackenzie,  Mackenzie  D.,  National  Provincial  Bank,  Newport, 

Monmouthshire. 

Mackenzie,  Osgood  H.,  of  Inverewe,  Poolewe. 
Mackenzie,  Major  Thomas,  78th  Highlanders,  India. 
Mackenzie,  Thomas,  Broadstone  Park,  Inverness. 
Mackintosh  of  Mackintosh,  Moyhall. 
Mackintosh,  Angus,  of  Holme. 
Mackintosh,  Eneas  W.,  of  Eaigmore. 
Mackintosh,  P.  A.,  C.E.,  Bridgend,  Glamorgan. 
MacLauchlan,  Eev.  Thomas,  LL.D.,  F.S.A.  Scot,  Edinburgh. 
MacLellan,  Alister,  Viewbank  House,  Drynie. 
Macpherson,  Colonel,  of  Glentruim,  Kingussie. 
Macrae,  D.  A.,  Monar,  by  Beauly. 


Members.  151 

Macrae,  Ewen  (of  Ardtulloch,  Australia),  Ardintoul,  Lochalsh. 

Menzies,  John,  Ness  Park,  Inverness. 

Nicolson,  Angus,  late  editor  of  "  The  Gael,"  Glasgow. 

O'Hara,   Thomas,   Inspector   of  National   Schools,    PortarKngton, 

Ireland. 

Eoss,  Rev.  William,  Eothesay. 
Scott,  Roderick,  solicitor,  Inverness. 
Seafield,  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of,  Castle  Grant. 
Shaw,  A.  Mackintosh,  Secretary's  Office,  G.P.O.,  London. 
Small,  James,  of  Diruanean,  Pitlochry. 
Stoddart,  Evan,  Mudgee,  New  South  Wales,  Australia. 
Sutherland -Walker,  Evan  Charles,  of  Skiho. 
Wilson,  P.  G.,  Inverness. 

ORDINARY    MEMBERS. 

Baillie,  Peter,  Inverness. 

Bain,  William,  "  Courier  "  Office,  Inverness. 

Bannatyne,  William  Mackinnon,  Bridge  of  Allan. 

Barclay,  John,  accountant,  Inverness. 

Barron,  James,  "  Courier  "  Office,  Inverness. 

Bisset,  Rev.  Alexander,  R.C.,  Stratherrick. 

Black,  George,  banker,  Inverness. 

Buchanan,  F.  C.,  Armadale,  Row,  Helensburgh. 

Csesari,  E.,  Station  Hotel,  Inverness. 

Cameron,  Miss  M.  E.,  of  Innseagan,  Fort-William. 

Cameron,  A.  H.  F.,  of  Lakefield,  2  Shield  Road,  Liverpool. 

Cameron,  Rev.  Alex.,  Sleat,  Skye. 

Cameron,  Donald,  of  Lochiel,  M.P. 

Cameron,  D.,  teacher,  Blairour,  Aonachan,  Lochaber. 

Cameron,  H.  E.,  Clunes,  Lochaber. 

Campbell,  Alexander,  supervisor,  Kyleakin,  Skye. 

Campbell,  D.  A.  (late  builder,  Inverness),  South  Africa. 

Campbell,  Donald,  draper,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness. 

Campbell,  Fraser  (of  Fraser  &  Campbell),  High  Street,  Inverness. 

Campbell,  George  J.,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Campbell,  Paul,  shoemaker,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness. 

Campbell,  A.  D.,  Kirkintilloch. 

Campbell,  T.  D.  (of  Gumming  &  Campbell),  Ness  Bank,  Inverness. 

Carmichael,  A.  A.,  Inland  Revenue,  IJist. 

Carroll,  Dr.  WiUiam,  617  South  16th  Street,  Philadelphia. 

Carruthers,  Walter,  Gordonville,  Inverness. 

Charleson,  Hector,  Railway  Refreshment  Rooms,  Forres. 

Chisholm,  Alpin,  21  Castle  Street,  Inverness. 


152  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Chisholm,  Archibald,  P.F.,  Lochmaddy. 

Chisholm,  Colin,  Namur  Cottage,  Inverness. 

Chisholm,  Simon,  Flowerdale,  Gairloch. 

Clunas,  James,  Nairn. 

Cooper,  William,  Highland  Railway,  Inverness. 

Cran,  John,  Kirkton,  Inverness. 

Gumming,  James,  Allanfearn,  Inverness. 

Dallas,  Alexander,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Davidson,  Andrew,  sculptor,  Inverness. 

Davidson,  John,  grocer,  Inglis  Street,  Inverness. 

Dott,  Donald,  Caledonian  Bank,  Lochmaddy. 

Douglas,  "Wm.,  Aberdeen  Town  and  County  Bank,  Inverness. 

Falconer,  Peter,  plasterer,  Inverness. 

Fergusson,  Charles,  Cally,  Gatehouse,  Kirkcudbrightshire. 

Fergusson,  Robert,  Raploch,  Stirling. 

Fergusson,  D.  H.,  pipe-major,  I.H.R.V.,  Inverness. 

Finlayson,  Simon,  commercial  traveller,  3  Jamaica  Street,  Glasgow. 

Forbes,  Duncan,  of  Culloden. 

Forsyth,  Ebenezer,  "  Inverness  Advertiser  "  Office,  Inverness. 

Forsyth,  John  H.,  wine  merchant,  Inverness. 

Forsyth,  W.  B.,  of  the  "  Inverness  Advertiser,"  Inverness. 

Fraser,  ^neas  (Innes  &  Mackay),  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Alexander,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Andrew,  builder,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Andrew,  cabinetmaker,  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  A.  R.,  South  Africa. 

Fraser,  D.,  Glenelg. 

Fraser,  Donald,  solicitor,  Nairn. 

Fraser,  Dr.  Hugh,  Morven,  by  Fort- William. 

Fraser,  Hugh,  Inspector  of  Poor,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Hugh,  Balloch,  Culloden. 

Fraser,  Hugh  C.,  Monavie  Cottage,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  George  (late  Royal  Bank,  Inverness),  London. 

Fraser,  Wm.,  78  Wells  Street,  Oxford  Street,  London. 

Fraser,  James,  commission  agent,  Lombard  Street,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  James,  C.E.,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  James,  Mauld,  Strathglass. 

Fraser,  James,  manufacturer,  41  North  Albion  Street,  Glasgow. 

Fraser,  Rev.  John,  Free  Church  Manse,  Rosskeen. 

Fraser,  Miss,  Farraline  Villa,  North  Berwick. 

Fraser,  Simon,  75  Huntly  Street,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  William,  Haugh  Brewery,  Inverness. 

Galloway,  George,  chemist,  Inverness. 

Gilles,  H.  C.,  52  Cromwell  Street,  Glasgow. 


Members.  153 

GiilanJers,  John,  teacher,  Denny. 

Glass,  C.  C.,  North  Street,  St.  Andrews. 

Grant,  Eev.  J.,  E.G.  Manse,  Kilmuir,  Skye. 

Gunn,  Wm.,  draper,  Castle  Street,  Inverness. 

Hood,  Andrew,  commercial  traveller,  39  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Hood,  Miss,  39  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Hood,  Thomas,  assistant  chemist,  High  Street,  Inverness. 

Joass,  W.  C.,  architect,  Dingwall. 

Kennedy,  Neil,  Kisshorn,  Lochcarron. 

Kerr,  Thomas,  Caledonian  Bank,  Inverness. 

Livingstone,  Colin,  Fort-William. 

Macbain,  Alex.,  M.A.,  head  master,  Eaining's  School,  Inverness. 

Machean,  Charles,  solicitor,  42  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Macbean,  George,  42  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Macbean,  James,  77  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Macbean.  Lachlan,  "Fifeshire  Advertiser"  Office,  Kirkcaldy. 

Macaskill,  D.,  saddler,  Dunvegan. 

Macdonald,  Alexander,  messenger-at-arms,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Alexander,  flesher,  New  Market,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Donald,  farmer,  Culchraggie,  Alness. 

Mecdonald,  Donald,  painter,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Donald,  Englishton,  Bunchrew. 

Macdonald,  D.  C.,  solicitor,  Aberdeen. 

Macdonald,  Finlay,  Druidag,  Kintail. 

Macdonald,  Hugh,  2  Petty  Street,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  John,  banker,  Buckie. 

Macdonald,  blacksmith,  Invergarry. 

Macdonald,  John,  Ballifeary,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  John,  gamekeeper,  Dunphail. 

Macdonald,  Jn.,  35  Tavistock  Terrace,  Upper  Hollo  way,  London,  N. 

Macdonald,  John,  merchant,  Exchange,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  John  (Innes  &  Mackay),  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Dr.  "William,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Kenneth,  town-clerk,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Ewen,  flesher,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  William,  Hilton  Village,  Inverness, 

Macdonald,  William,  contractor,  Badcall,  Glen-Urquhart. 

Macdonald,  Murdo,  Bandora  Hall,  Bridge  of  Allan. 

Macdonell,  F.  D. ,  Hastings,  Hawkes  Bay,  New  Zealand. 

Macdougall,  Charles,  inspector  of  poor,  Fort- Augustus. 

Macdougall,  Donald,  Craggan,  Grantown. 

Macgillivray,  Finlay,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Macgillivray,  John,  grocer,  Academy  Street,  Inverness. 

Macgillivray,  William,  clerk,  Castle  Street,  Inverness. 


164  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Macgillivray,  William,  innkeeper,  Kingussie. 

Macgregor,  Donald,  Fearn. 

Macgregor,  John,  hotelkeeper,  Invermoriston. 

Macgregor,  Eev.  Malcolm,  F.C.  Manse,  Ferrintosh. 

Maciver,  Duncan,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Maciver,  Finlay,  carver,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Macintyre,  Donald,  schoolmaster,  Arpafeelie. 

Mackay,  Alexander,  builder,  Academy  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  Charles,  builder,  Culduthel  .Road,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  D.  J.,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  John  G.,  12  Stevenson  Drive,  Langside,  Glasgow. 

Mackay,  William,  solicitor,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  William,  bookseller,  High  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackenzie.  A.  S.,  4  Upper  Porchester  Street,  Hyde  Park,  London. 

Mackenzie,  Alexander,    F.S.A.  Scot.,   editor,   "Celtic   Magazine." 

Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  Alexander,  wine  merchant,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 
Mackenzie,  Alexander,  architect,  251  St.  Vincent  Street,  Glasgow. 
Mackenzie,  A.  C.,  teacher,  Maryburgh,  Dingwall. 
Mackenzie,  Andrew,  ironmonger,  Alness. 
Mackenzie,  C.  D.,  102  Linthorpe  Road,  Middlesboro'-on-Tees. 
Mackenzie,  Evan,  solicitor,  Inverness. 
Mackenzie,  Dr.  F.  M.,  Inverness. 
Mackenzie,  H.  F.,  Caledonian  Bank,  Inverness. 
Mackenzie,  J.  A.,  C.E.,  burgh  surveyor,  Inverness. 
Mackenzie,  John,  Auchenstewart,  Wishaw. 
Mackenzie,  P.  A.  C.,  57  Marquis  Road,  Camden  Square,  London. 
Mackenzie,  Hugh,  postmaster,  Alness. 
Mackenzie,  Murdoch,  Inland  Revenue,  Fort- William. 
Mackenzie,  Simon  (Harrison  &  Co.),  Chambers  Street,  Edinburgh. 
Mackenzie,  William,  factor,  Ardross. 
Mackenzie,  William,  solicitor,  Dingwall. 

Mackenzie,  William,  "  Aberdeen  Free  Fress  "  Office,  Inverness. 
Mackenzie,  William,  draper,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness. 
Mackinnon,  Deputy- Surgeon-General  W.  A.,  C.B.,  Aldershot. 
Mackintosh,  Charles,  grocer,  Duff  Street,  Inverness. 
Mackintosh,  Duncan,  Bank  of  Scotland,  Inverness. 
Mackintosh,  Duncan,  draper,  57  High  Street,  Inverness. 
Mackintosh,  James,  National  Bank,  Grantown. 
Mackintosh,  James,  27  Hope  Street,  Glasgow. 
Mackintosh,  John,  57  High  Street,  Inverness. 
Mickintosh,  Miss,   The  Brae,  Denny. 
Maclachlan,  D.,  banker,  Portree. 
Maclachlan,  Duncan,  publisher,  64  South  Bridge,  Edinburgh. 


Members.  155 

Maclachlan,  Rev.  Lachlan,  Established  Church,  Tain. 

Maclean,  Alexander,  coal  merchant,  Inverness. 

Maclean,  Ewen,  Hawkes  Bay,  New  Zealand. 

Maclean,  Eoderick,  Ardross,  Alness. 

Macleay,  W.  A.,  birdstuffer,  Inverness. 

Maclennan,  Murdo,  Shore  Street,  Inverness. 

Macleod,  Eobert,  commercial  traveller,  Leith. 

Macmillan,  Archd.,  Kaituna,  Havelock,  Marlborough,  N.Z. 

Macmillan,  John,  Kingsmills  Koad,  Inverness. 

Macnee,  Dr.,  Inverness. 

Macneil,  Nigel,  Dumbarton  Road,  Glasgow. 

Macphail,  Alexander,  Lairg  House,  Strathpeffer. 

Macphail,  Angus,  Lovedale,  South  Africa. 

Macpherson,  D.,  Glenness  Place,  Inverness. 

Macpherson,  Duncan,  8  Drummond  Street,  Inverness. 

Macpherson,  James,  Rose  Street,  Inverness. 

Macpherson,  Rev.  John,  F.C.  Manse,  Lairg. 

Macpherson,  Mrs.  Sarah,  Alexandra  Villa,  Kingussie. 

Macrae,  Alexander  M,  Glenoze,  by  Portree. 

Macrae,  Rev.  A.,  Free  Church  Manse,  Clachan,  Kintyre. 

Macrae,  Rev.  Angus,  F.C.,  Glen-Urquhart. 

Macrae,  Donald,  Public  School,  Alness. 

Macrae,  Duncan,  Ardintoul,  Lochalsh 

Macrae,  Ewen,  late  Braintrath,  Lochalsh. 

Macrae,  Ewen,  Borlum,  Fort- Augustus. 

Macrae,  R.,  postmaster,  Beauly. 

Macrae,  John,  solicitor,  Dingwall. 

Macrae,  John,  medical  student,  Ardintoul,  Lochalsh. 

Macrae,  Kenneth,  Tornapress,  Lochcarron. 

Macraild,  A.  R.,  Inverness. 

Mactavish,  Alexander,  ironmonger,  Castle  Street,  Inverness. 

Matheson,  Dr.  Farquhar,  Soho  Square,  London. 

Marshall,  John,  coal  merchant,  Inverness. 

Matheson,  John,  supervisor,  Paisley. 

Melven,  James,  bookseller,  Inverness. 

Menzies,  Duncan,  farmer,  Blairich,  Rogart. 

Middleton,  A.  E.,  "  Highlander  "  Office,  Inverness. 

Middleton,  David,  coal  merchant,  Inverness. 

Morrison,  Robert,  jeweller,  Inverness. 

Morrison,  William,  schoolmaster,  Dingwall. 

Munro,  A.  R.,  Eden  Cottage,  Ladypool  Lane,  Birmingham. 

Munro,  John,  54  Clyde  Place,  Glasgow. 

Murdoch,  John,  "  The  Highlander,"  Inverness. 

Murray,  William,  chief-constable,  The  Castle,  Inverness. 


156  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Nicolson,  Alex.,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  advocate,  sheriff-substitute  of  Kirk- 
cudbright. 

Nicolson,  William,  101  Castle  Eoad,  Kouth,  Caadiff. 
Noble,  Andrew,  Lombard  Street,  Inverness. 
Noble,  John,  bookseller,  Castle  Street,  Inverness. 
Eeid,  James,  3  High  Street,  Inverness. 
Ehind,  John,  architect,  Inverness. 
Robertson,  George,  Bank  of  Scotland,  Coupar-Angus. 
Robson,  A.  Mackay,  Constitution  Street,  Leith. 
Rose,  Hugh,  solicitor,  Inverness. 
Ross,  Alex.,  architect,  Inverness. 
Ross,  Alex.,  traveller,  Teaninich  Distillery,  Alness. 
Ross,  Alex.,  "  Northern  Chronicle  "  Office,  Inverness. 
Ross,  D.  R.,  inspector  of  poor,  Glen-Urquhart. 
Ross,  George,  ironmonger,  DingwalL 
Ross,  Jonathan,  draper,  Inverness. 
Ross,  Roderick,  Middlesboro'-on-Tees. 
Sharp,  D.,  Distillery,  Port-Dundas,  Glasgow. 
Shaw,  David,  Caledonian  Bank,  Bonar  Bridge. 
Shaw,  Hugh,  tinsmith,  Inverness. 
Shaw,  John  D.,  accountant,  Inverness. 
Simpson,  Ex-Provost,  Inverness. 
Simpson,  George  B.,  Broughty-Ferry. 
Sinclair,  Archibald,  printer,  62  Argyle  Street,  Glasgow. 
Sinclair,  Duncan,  teacher,  Parish  School,  Lochalsh. 
Sinclair,  Rev.  John,  Kinloch-Rannoch. 
Sinton,  Rev.  Thomas,  Glengarry. 
Smith,  Thomas  A.,  clerk,  Steam  Saw  Mills,  Inverness. 
Smith,  Wm.  Alex.,  insurance  agent,  Inverness. 
Stewart,  Colin  J.,  Dingwall. 
Stewart,  Henry,  10  Huntly  Street,  Inverness. 
Stewart,  Robert,  shipbuilder,  Inverness. 
Stratton,  Dr.,  4  Valletort  Terrace,  Stoke,  Devonport. 
Stuart,  W.  G.,  draper,  Castle  Street,  Inverness. 
Sutherland,  Rev.  A.  C.,  Strathbraan,  Perthshire. 
Sutherland,  George  Miller,  solicitor,  Wick. 
Thompson,  Robert,  grocer,  Tomnahurich  Street,  Inverness. 
Tolmie,  John,  1  Bellevue  Crescent,  Edinburgh. 
Tulloch,  Dr.  David,  Helmsdale. 
Tulloch.  John,  painter,  Inverness. 
Walker,  Chas.  A.,  Skibo,  Sutherlandshire. 
Watson,  Rev.  William,  Kiltearn,  Evanton. 
Watt,  David,  Volunteer  Arms  Hotel,  Inverness. 
Whyte,  David,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 


Members.  157 


Whyte,  Henry,  220  Hope  Street,  Glasgow. 
Whyte,  John,  librarian,  Free  Library,  Inverness. 
Wilson,  George,  S.S.C.,  20  Young  Street,  Edinburgh. 

APPRENTICE. 

Mackay,  James  John,  late  of  Drummond,  Inverness. 


LI  ST 


BOOKS  IN  THE  SOCIETY'S  LIBRARY. 


NAMES  OF  BOOKS. 

1871. 
Ossian's     Poems     (H.    Society's    edition, 

Gaelic  and  Latin),  3  vols., 
Smith's  Gaelic  Antiquities, 
Smith's  Seann  Dana,        .... 
Highland    Society's    Report    on  Ossian's 

Poems,          ..... 
Stewart's  Sketches  of  the  Highlands,  2  vols., 
Skene's  Picts  and  Scots,  .... 
Dan  Osiein  Mhic  Fhinn,  .... 
Macleod's  Oran  Nuadh  Gaelach, 
An  Teachdaire  Gaelach,  1829-30, 
Carew's  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,  . 
Orain  Ghilleasbuig  Grannd,  two  copies,     . 
Maconnell's  Reul-eolas,     .... 
Maclauchlan's  Celtic  Gleanings, 

1872. 

Maclauchlan's  Early  Scottish  Church, 
The  Dean  of  Lismore's  Book,    . 
Macleod  &  Dewar's  Gaelic  Dictionary, 
Highland  Society's  do.,  2  vols., 

Ritson's  Caledonians,  Picts  and  Scots,    '   . 
Dr.  Walker's  Hebrides,  2  vols. 
Campbell's  Language,  Poetry,  and  Music  of 

the  Highland  Clans, 
Macnicol's  Remarks  on  Dr.  Johnson's  Tour 

in  the  Hebrides,    .... 
Somer's  Letters  irom  the  Highlands, 
Cameron's  Chemistry  of  Agriculture, 
Sketches  of  Islay,    ..... 
Cameron's  History  of  Skye, 


DONOR. 

Colonel      Mackenzie 
of  Parkmount. 
ditto, 
ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

Mr.  W.  Mackay. 
Mr.  Charles  Mackay. 

ditto. 
Rev.  Dr.  Maclauchlan. 

ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto. 

Sir  Ken.  S.  Mackenzie 
of  Gairloch,  Bart, 
ditto, 
ditto. 

Mr.  John  Murdoch. 

ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto. 


160 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness, 


Kennedy's  Bardic  Stories  of  Ireland, 
Hicky's  Agricultural  Class-book, 
Grain  Ghaelach  Mhic  Dhunleibhe,    . 
The  Wolf  of  Badenoch,    .... 

Familiar  Illustrations  of  Scottish  Life, 
Antiquity  of  the  Gaelic  Language,     . 
The  Dauntless  Eed  Hugh  of  Tyrconnell,    . 
The  Kilchoman  People  Vindicated,  . 
Caraid  a'  Ghael — Sermon, 
Highland  Clearances  the  cause  of  Highland 
Famines,       ..... 

Co-operative  Associations, 

Lecture,  ....... 

Eeview  of  "  Eight  Days  in  Islay,"     . 
Gold  Diggings  in  Sutherland,   . 
Eeview  of  Language  of  Ireland, 
Highland  Character,         .... 

An  Teachdaire  Gaelach,  1829-30,      . 
The  Scottish  Eegalia,       .... 

Campbell's  West  Highland  Tales,  4  vols., . 
Bliadhna  Thearlaich,         . 
Macfarlane's  Collection  of  Gaelic  Poems,   . 
Old  Gaelic  Bible  (partly  M.S.), 

Machale's,  Archbishop,  Irish  Pentateuch, . 
Irish  Translation  of  Moore's  Melodies, 
The   Bull   "Ineffabilis"   (Latin,  English, 

Gaelic,  and  French), 
Celtic  Language  and  Dialects,  . 
Bourke's  Irish  Grammar, 
Bourke's  Easy  Lessons  in  Irish, 
Mackenzie's  Beauties  of  Gaelic  Poetry, 

Macrimmon's  Piobaireachd, 

Stratton's  Gaelic  Origin  of  Greek  and  Latin, 

Gaelic  Translation  of  Apocrypha  (by  Eev. 

A.  Macgregor), 
Buchanan's  Historia  Scotise, 
The  Game  Laws,  by  E.  G.  Tolmie,    . 
St.  James's  Magazine,  vol.  i.,    . 

Fingal  (edition  1762),      .        ft,  .    ,.';;     . 
Collection  of  English  Poems  (2  vols.),    .,,.,; 


Mr.  John  Murdoch, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 
Mr.  Alex.  Mackenzie. 

ditto. 

Miss  Hood. 
J.   Mackenzie,    M.D., 

of  Eileanach. 
Canon  Bourke. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 
Eev.  W.  Eoss,  Eothe- 

say. 
Eev.  A.  Macgregor. 

ditto. 

ditto. 
Mr.  William  Mackay, 

ditto. 

Mr.    Mackay.     book- 
seller, Inverness. 
C.  Eraser-Mackintosh. 

Esq.,  M.P. 
Mr.  D.  Mackintosh. 


Library. 

Philologic  Uses  of  the  Celtic  Tongue, 
Scoto-Celtic  Philology,     .... 

1873. 

Dana  Oisein  (Maclauchlan's  edition), 
Munro's  Gaelic  Primer,     .... 
M 'Alpine's  Gaelic  Dictionary,   .        ",. 
M'Mhuirich's  "  Duanaire,"        .         . 
Munro's  Gaelic  Grammar, 
Grain  Mhic-an-t-Saoir,      .... 
Grain  Uilleam  Kos,          .... 
Ceithir  Searmoin,  le  Dr.  Dewar, 
Carsewell's  Prayer  Book  (Gaelic), 
Scot's  Magazine  (1757),    . 
History  of  the  Eebellion,  1745-46,    . 
Welsh  Bible,  .         .         .         .         . 
Old  Gaelic  New  Testament, 
Adhamh  agus  Eubh  (Adam  and  Eve), 

Old  Gaelic  Bible, 

Grain  Ailein  Dughalaich, 
Macpherson's  Poems  of  Ossian, 

1874. 

An  Gaidheal  for  1873,     . 
Grain,  cruinnichte  le  Mac-an-Tuainear, 

The  Gospels,  in  eight  Celtic  dialects, 
Eraser  of  Knockie's  Highland  Music, 

1875. 

The  Clan  Battle  at  Perth,  by  A.  M.  Shaw, 
The  Scottish  Metrical  Psalms,  . 
Sailm  Dhaibhidh  Ameadrerchd  (Ed.  1659). 

1876. 
Biographical     Dictionary      of     Eminent 

Scotsmen  (9  vols.), 
Grain  Ghilleasbuig  Grannd, 
Clarsach  nan  Beann,         .        '.         .         . 
Fulangas  Chriosd,    .         .        . 
Dain  Spioradail,       . 
Spiritual  Songs  (Gaelic  and  English), 
Alexander  Macdonald's  Gaelic  Poems, 
Grain  Mhic-an-t-Saoir,      .         .         . 
Leabhar  nan  ceist,    .        .         .        .     "  ; 


161 

Mr.  D.  Maciver. 
Lord  ISTeaves,   LL.D., 
F.K.S.E. 

Maclachan  &  Stewart. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

Purchased. 
Mr.  A.  Macbean. 
Mr.  D.  Mackintosh. 
Mr.  L.  Mackintosh. 
Mr.  L.  Macbean. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

The  Publishers. 

Mr.     A.    Mackintosh 

Shaw,  London. 
Mr.      J.      Mackay, 

Shrewsbury. 
Mr.  Mackenzie,  Bank 

Lane,  Inverness. 

The  Author. 

Mr.  J.  Eraser,  Glasgow. 


)  Mr.  A.   E.   Macraild, 
J        Inverness. 
Mr.  J.  Craigie,  Dundee. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

11 


162 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


Co-eigneachadh  Soisgeulach  (Boston), 

History  of  the  Druids  (Toland's), 

Melodies  from  the  Gaelic, 

Maclean's  History  of  the  Celtic  Language, 

Leabhar  Sailm,        ..... 

Origin  and  Descent  of  the  Gael,        .        ';'•' 

Stewart's  Gaelic  Grammar, 

Macpherson's  Caledonian  Antiquities  (1768), 

Biboul  Noimbh  (London,  1855), 

Searmona  Mhic  Dhiarmaid, 

Dain  Oisein,    ...... 

Fingal  (1762), 

Life  of  Columba  (1798), 
Grain  Eob  Duinn  Mhic  Aoidh, 
Dain  leis  an  Urr.  I.  Lees, 
Searmons  leis  an  Urr.  E.  Blarach,     . 
Eaglais  na  h-Alba,  leis  an  Urr.  A.  Clare, 

Inbhirnis.     ..... 

Bourke's  Aryan  Origin  of  the  Gaelic  Eace, 
Reed's  Bibliotheca  Scoto-Celtica, 
Munro's  Gaelic  Primer  (3  copies  in  library), 
Eachdraidh  na  h-Alba,  le  A.  MacCoinnich 

(3  copies),    ..... 
Dain  Guilig  leis  an  Urr.  I.  Lees, 
Philologic  Uses  of  the  Celtic  Tongue,  by 

Professor  Geddes  (1872), 
Philologic  Uses  of  the  Celtic  Tongue  (1873), 
Poems  by  Ossian,  in  metre  (1796),    . 

Proceedings  of  the  Historical  and  Archaeo- 
logical    Association     of     Ireland 

(1870-3), 

Shaw's  Gaelic  Dictionary  (1780), 
History  of  the  Culdees,  Macallum's, 
Macdiarmid's  Gaelic  Sermons  (M.S.,  1773), 
Gaelic  Grammar,  Irish  Character  (1808),    . 
Gaelic  Pentateuch,  Irish  character,    . 
Gaelic  Book  of  Common  Prayer  (1819),     . 
Gaelic  Psalter,  Irish  character,  .         .         , 
Transactions  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inver- 
ness, vol.  i.,  ii.',  iii.,  iv., 
Bibliotheca  Scoto-Celtica, 
Grain  le  Eob  Donn,          .         . 
Leabhar  Oran  Gaidhealach, 


Mr.  J.  Craigie,  Dundee, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto. 

ditto. 
Mr.  J.  Mackay,  Swansea 

ditto. 
Purchased. 

The  Author. 

Eev.  Dr.  Lees,  Paisley. 

The  Author. 

ditto. 
Mr.    Alex.    Kennedy, 

Bohuntin. 


The  Society. 

Eev.  A.  Macgregor. 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 
Eev.  A.  Macgregor. 

ditto. 

ditto. 


Library.  163 

Vible  Casherick,  Manx,    .... 

Biobla  Naomtha,  Irish,    .     V;V 

Dr.  Smith's  Seann  Dana, 

Evans's  Welsh  Grammar  and  Vocabulary, 

Grain  Uilleam  Eos,  .  •   .  '•  '     . 

Grain  Dhonneha  Bhain,    .... 

Co-chruinneachadh  Grain  Gailig, 

Book  of  Psalms,  Irish,      .         .        '.;  •      . 

Grain  Nuadh  Gaidhelach,  le  A.  Macdhomh- 
nuill,    ...... 

Laoidhean  o'n  Sgriobtuir,  D.  Dewar, 

Leabhar  Gran  Gailig,        .... 

Am  Biobla  JSTaorntha  (1690),    . 

The  Family  of  lona,         .... 

Grant's  Origin  and  Descent  of  the  Gael,    . 

Eathad  Dhe  gu  Sith,         .... 

Dain  Spioradail,  Urr.  I.  Griogalach, 

Dara  Leabhar  airson  nan  Sgoilean  Gaidh- 
ealach,  ..... 

Treas  Leabhar  do.  do.,      . 

What  Patriotism,  Justice,  and  Christianity 
demand  for  India, 

Grain  Ghaidhealach,         .... 

Priolo's  Illustrations  from  Ossian,     .         .     Purchased. 

Photograph  of  Gaelic  Charter,  1408,          .     Kev.    W.   Eoss, 

Eothesay. 

The  Celtic  Magazine,  vol.  i.,     .         .         .     The  Publishers. 

Elementary  Lessons  in  Gaelic,  .         .         .     The  Author. 

1877. 

Stewart's  Gaelic  Grammar,        .         .         .     Mr.  D.  Mackintosh. 

Proceedings  of  the  Historical  and  Archse-  j 

ological    Association    of    Ireland,  >The  Society. 

1874-5  (2  parts),  .         .         .         .  J 

Do.  do.       1876  (3  parts),         ditto. 

Irish.  Pedigrees,  by  O'Hart,       .         .         .     The  Author. 

Dan  an  Deirg  agus  Tiomna  Ghuill  (English 

Translation),  2  copies,    .         .         .     Mr.  C.  S.  Jerram. 

Transactions  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  In- 
verness, vol.  v.,     . 

Gaelic  and  English  Vocabulary  (1741),      .     Eev.  A.  Macgregor. 

Aryan   Origin    of    the   Celtic  Eace    and  )  Mr.   John    Mackay, 
Language, J        Swansea. 

Old  Map  of  Scotland  (1746),  .         .         .Mr.  Colin  M'Callum, 

London. 


164  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Collection  of  Harp  Music,        .         .        .    Mr.  Charles  Fergusson. 
Valuation  Eoll  of  the  County  of  Inverness 

(1869-70),    .        .    '     .        .        .  ditto. 

Do.  do.      Eoss  (1871-72),    .  ditto. 

Inverness  Directory  (1869-70),          .         .  ditto. 

Greek  Testament,     .         .         .         .         ^  ditto. 

Greek  Lexicon,         .....  ditto. 

Gospel  of  St.  John  adapted  to  the  Hamil- 

tonian  System  (Latin),  .         .  ditto. 

Histoire  de  Gil  Bias  de  Santillane  (French),  ditto. 

Prophecies  of  the  Brahan  Seer,  2nd  edition,     Mr.  A.  Mackenzie. 
My  Schools  and  Schoolmasters,         .         .     Mr.  James  Eeid. 
Gaelic  Etymology  of  the  English  Language, 

Dr.  Charles  Mackay,     .         .         .     J.  Mackay,  Swansea. 
Transactions  of  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness, 

vol.  vi., 

The  Highland  Echo,         ....     Purchased. 
The  Highlander  Newspaper  from  heginning 

up  to  date, Purchased. 

Hebrew — Celtic  Affinity,  Dr.  Stratton,       .     The  Author. 
Proceedings  of  the  Historical  and  Archseo-  \ 

logical  Society  of  Ireland,   1877 —  >     The  Society. 

Parts  I.,  II.,  ILL,  IV.,  .         .  ) 

lUustrations  of  Waverley,   published  for  |  Migs  r  Farraline 

the  Eoyal  Association  forjPromotmg  V     v.,,     -^  TB-_iat 

j  i         TT  A      j        •        n        j  i          i/ir»/»ff\  "  Illd-    JJi  .    J_>LI  W ll/IW* 

the  Fine  Arts  in  Scotland  (1865),   j 
Illustrations  of  Heart  of  Midlothian,  do. 

do.  (1873),  .         .         .        .        .  ditto. 

Illustrations  of  The  Bride  of  Lammermoor, 

do.  do.  (1875),       ....  ditto. 

Illustrations  of  Eed  Gauntlet,  do.  do.  (1876),  ditto. 

1880. 
Gunn  on  the  Harp  in  the  Highlands,         .    Miss      Cameron      of 

Innseagan. 
English  Translation  of  Buchanan's  "  Lathal 

'Bhreitheanais,"   by    the    Kev.    J.  >  Translator. 
Sinclair,  Kinloch-Rannoch  (1880),  ) 
An  t-Oranaiche,   compiled    by  Archibald 

Sinclair  (1880),     ....     Compiler. 
Danaibh  Spioradal,  &c.,  le  Seumas  Mac-  ^  A.  Maclean,  coal  mer- 

Bheathain.     Inverness,  1880,          J        chant,  Inverness. 
Macdiarmid's  Sermons  in  Gaelic  (1804),    .     Colin       MacCallum, 

London. 


Library, 


165 


Journal  of  the  Eoyal  Historical  and 
Archaeological  Society  of  Ireland,  . 

Bute  Docks,  Cardiff,  by  John  M'Connachie, 
C.E.  (1876),  •'.-'. 

Set  of  Celtic  Magazine,     .... 

Observations  on  the  Present  State  of  the 
Highlands,  by  the  Earl  of  Selkirk 
(1806), j 

Collection    of    Gaelic    Songs,   by  Eanald  I 
Macdonald  (1809).        .    '     .         .  f 

Mary  Mackellar's  Poems  and  Songs  (1880), 
Dr.  O'Gallagher's  Sermons  in  Irish  (1877) 


The  Society. 

The  Author. 
Purchased. 

•  John    Mackay,    C.E., 
Hereford. 

F.  C.  Buchanan,  Ar- 
madale,  Row,  Helens- 
burgh. 

The  Authoress. 
John    Mackay,   C.E., 

Hereford. 

L.      Macdonald       of 
Skaebost. 


John  Hill  Burton's  History  of   Scotland  ) 

(9  vote,.),      •         •    '     •         •         •/ 
Burt's  Letters  from  the  North  of  Scotland 

(2vols.),      .... 
A  Genealogical  Account  of  the  Highland  \ 

Families    of  Shaw    by  A.  Mack-  V  The  Author. 

intosh  Shaw  (1877),      .         .         .  J 
History    of   the    Clan    Chattan,    by    A. 

Mackintosh  Shaw  (1880),      . 
Leabhair     an    t-Sean     Tiomna     air     na"\ 

dtarruing  on  Teanguidh  Ughdarrach 

go  Gaidhlig  tre  churam  agus  saothar 

an  doctiir  Uiliam  Bhedel,  Eoimhe 

so  Easpog    Chillemhorie    'n   Erin 

(1830), 


ditto. 


The  Author. 


A.      R.       MacKaild, 
Inverness. 


PB 
1501 
G3 
v.9 


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